At Brandon Hall Group, we have an incredible balance and diversity of talented people. We all come from different backgrounds and demographics. We have been practitioners, leaders, managers, and some have owned their own businesses.
As with any group of people, we have different personalities, different views on risks, and varying ideas on the right way to do things. We don’t always agree, and our differences make us stronger because we are more likely to consider more options than if we were all cut from the same stone.
Building a balanced, diverse team is difficult. But you must cultivate two broad qualities in your team: true candor and capabilities you don’t have. You are making a monumental mistake if you don’t hire people who are smarter and/or more qualified than you. You must also create an environment in which their opinions and ideas are heard and valued.
I want my team’s IQ to go up with every hire we make, not stay the same. If you or your managers are not hiring people who can expand the team’s abilities, aptitude and breadth of experience, then whatever progress your organization is making could stall, or worst of all, regress.