Founder Friday is a weekly guest post written by a founder who is based in or hails from the Silicon Prairie. Each month, a topic relevant to startups is presented and founders share lessons learned or best practices utilized on that topic. April’s topic is early hires.
About the author: Adi Kunalic is co-founder and CEO of Hurrdat and co-founder of opendorse.
“People are not your most important asset. The right people are.” — Jim Collins, “Good to Great”
As a young entrepreneur in the Midwest, I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of two startups, Hurrdat and opendorse. At Hurrdat, we’ve grown from two founders with a crazy idea to 15 employees in just under four years. How did we do this? I’ll say it’s a combination of trial and error, mixed with a little bit of luck.
Thanks to our sponsor
However, it’s the right employees forming the ideal team that has given us success. I set aside talent and experience for a moment to consider these five traits listed below. Each characteristic is ingrained in the individuals at Hurrdat.
Take a look at the five must-have personality traits that will make (instead of break) your startup:
1. Accountability
Here’s something we all expect from employees. The truth is, accountability can be hard to find. An employee who lacks accountability will create unnecessary and contagious negative tension in your office. Get these people out and get them out fast.
Look for: An accountable employee will allow others to challenge them and use it as motivation to prove they are trustworthy. Put simply, these people don’t make excuses. They will deal with complex situations head on because of a sense of equity within your business.
Avoid: Employees who have a hard time accepting blame. These people will always have a reason for not getting something done on time. You’ll know it when you hear negative statements like “I’ve been waiting on someone else for approval,” or “I have way too much on my to do list right now.”
2. Adaptability
Obviously, adaptability is crucial to every business, but it’s even more important when growing a startup. Startups are constantly readjusting because it’s truly the nature of the business. Process and structure might seem like the most important part of your business, but you need the right people. Your employees need to be ready for perpetual change.
Look for: Adaptable employees are always flexible team members. They understand that everything done at your company requires team effort. When problems arise they’re quick to react and adjust their daily routine to provide a solution. The adaptable employee sees every challenge as an opportunity for growth.
Avoid: The crowd who knows how to put on a show. It’s almost too easy to pretend as though you’re working hard. You’ll be able to quickly spot the phony hard workers. Stay away from people who heavily complain about being stressed and overworked. Stress is inevitable, but constantly hearing about it isn’t. The complainer brings up how much they’ve worked to cover up how much they didn’t.
3. Transparency
Lack of communication has the power to be the downfall of any business. A transparent team fixes problems before they happen. They understand that small hills can turn into large mountains in no time at all. This openness drives your culture forward and ensures that everyone is on the same page.
Look for: Employees who can take constructive criticism. These people are so driven to grow your business and themselves that they don’t take it personally. The transparent worker can identify issues and others who aren’t upholding your business’ standards. Always keep transparent employees because it will make everyone else better.
Avoid: Employees who are scared of confrontation have something to hide. They are either not doing their job right or slacking off. People like this get frustrated when you’re honest with them and will always try to stir up drama in the office. This type of negativity can be extremely dangerous for the rest of your team.
4. Self-Motivation
This might seem like a no-brainer, but it can be easily overlooked. Your employee’s mindset on life and their career should align with your startup’s vision. If it doesn’t, then you’ll find yourself trying to get them excited about every project. A self-motivated employee shares your passion and is proactive about growing your business.
Look for: The people who understand the bigger picture. This person will respect you and what you’ve created. They understand that success in your industry takes hard work. Self-motivated employees will embrace the opportunity you’ve given them to grow. In turn, they’ll remain focused and seek to leave a positive impact on your business.
Avoid: Negative people who typically lack natural energy. Get rid of them with haste. These are the people who usually don’t understand or care about your company values and culture. Their motivation is a paycheck and only a paycheck. As long as they’re getting one they won’t bother to engage unless prompted. These people are poison to startups because they fuel negative energy in the office.
5. Competitiveness
Competition is the best way to grow your startup. This gives your employees an opportunity to not only grow but also challenge the people around them to improve. Lack of competition in your environment can lead to slacking off, entitlement and stalled progress.
Look for: People who know what it takes to win. Competitive employees put in the extra time and seek additional ways to gain knowledge. These people are confident and often possess strong leadership skills. They want to succeed not just as an individual, but also as a team. They encourage everyone to be the best they can be.
Avoid: Individuals who are entitled or comfortable with stale work. This person doesn’t like competition because they fear hard work. The uncompetitive worker will turn a blind eye to challenges. They will use hierarchy politics to avoid blame when things slip through the cracks. Keeping them around would be detrimental to your company’s progress.
At Hurrdat and opendorse, we seek to find employees who possess these personality traits. Over the past four years, our team has grown, we’ve faced challenges, we’ve had turnover, but one thing has remained constant: our culture. Your startup’s culture will be a direct product of the traits of your employees.
Our team is accountable, adaptable, transparent, motivated and competitive. You can feel it when you walk in the office and our customers feel it too. Talent and experience is an asset in every business, but finding the right people will set you apart from other startups, leading you to fast growth and long-term success.
Credits: Adi Kunalic photo from Twitter.
