Which three things should I look for in recruiting the first people for my company?

A young CEO of a New York based start-up asked me for this advice during a networking event at last week’s World Economic Forum in Davos. And like all good Questions, this one is challenging although it seems so simple.
My response …

  1. Integrity
    Integrity is everything. Without integrity we have nothing.
    To what extent do you sense that the person’s actions, body language, mannerisms are aligned with what they are actually saying.
    It’s only a feeling, of course. Listen to your gut.
  1. Personal Congruence
    It’s your company … you are the owner. You are the source. The company means something to you. You are ultimately responsible for everything that happens connected with it. You need to be able to trust your people. You need to feel you want to spend a large part of your day with them, and enjoy it. The workplace is a social space. It’s a space for personal and professional growth, and innovative ideas emerge when we feel free within it.
    It’s only a feeling, of course. Listen to your gut.
  1. Passion
    Does the person seem passionate about their work? Does the person seem passionate about what you are trying to do?
    You neither need nor want someone who is just looking for a ‘job’. You need someone who will think and evolve with you, bring their whole selves into the venture to grow it with you.
    It’s only a feeling, of course. Listen to your gut.

Of course candidates need skills that fit: this goes without saying. The critical factors are always personal, value-based, even in a digital business such as this, and especially in a small company.