Recruiting should never be delegated and the first 10 hires set the tone for the future of the company.
Founders should focus on their strengths and delegate tasks they are not proficient in to individuals with complementary skill sets.
Deep dives
Recruiting for Diversity: Building Crew Programs in Low-Income Communities
During his high school years, Rsh Cooper, now an author and motivational speaker, joined a rowing team despite his initial reluctance. He became the captain of the country's first all-black high school rowing team, and his experience inspired him to establish crew programs in low-income communities to promote diversity within the sport.
Always Be Recruiting: The Importance of Constantly Scouting for Talent
According to Paul English, co-founder of kayak, recruiting is an ongoing process that should never be delegated. He emphasizes the significance of recruiting the right people for the first ten hires, who serve as cultural co-founders and set the tone for future hires. English advocates for swiftly making recruiting decisions, relying on specific project-based questions, and conducting thorough reference checks to ensure precision and speed in the hiring process.
Recruit for Complementary Skill Sets: Leveraging Strengths and Weaknesses
Paul English highlights the importance of self-awareness and recognizing one's weaknesses. By pairing up with individuals who have complementary skill sets, founders can focus on their strengths and delegate tasks they are not proficient in. English suggests hiring a chief of staff to handle operations and considering the honest feedback of others to address personal weaknesses and build a strong team.
Recruiting Customers: Harnessing User Feedback for Continuous Improvement
Paul English believes in actively seeking input from customers to improve products and services. He shares the example of his previous venture, Get Human, where he provided direct assistance to individuals struggling with phone customer service. English emphasizes the value of recruiting customers to gain insights, adapt to their needs, and build a direct channel between users and creators.
The more your business scales, the more tempting it is to delegate your company’s recruiting efforts. Resist that urge! You should always be recruiting. Featuring Paul English, co-founder of travel search platform Kayak, this episode guides us through five critical lessons for the hiring journey. English is passionate and relentless about the subject of recruiting – and the scale of the stakes: “The first 10 people you hire set the tone for the next thousand people you hire."