How to Assemble a High-Performing Team | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Instacart's CEO discusses the process of attracting and assessing talent, as well as creating a seamless working environment for high performing teams.

Key Insights

• 😤 Recruiting should focus not only on attracting talent but also thoroughly assessing if they are a good fit for the company culture and team dynamics.
• 🥺 Understanding each individual's strengths and unleashing their potential as part of a cohesive leadership team leads to a more effective and supportive environment.
• 👨‍💼 Encouraging leaders to apply their skills outside of their function promotes collaboration, problem-solving, and strengthens the overall business.

Transcript

we all know startups are no joke you need people who have grit and want to be there and are going to write the ups and downs so we'd love to hear about how you assemble High performing teams and as you've come into instacart you've had to you know build a leadership team you've attracted people together um but how do you how do you go about this ho... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Instacart attract the right talent and assess potential hires?

The CEO believes in thoroughly assessing candidates and ensuring they align with the company culture and team dynamics. This includes having conversations to highlight potential drawbacks and assess the candidate's motivations.

Q: How does the CEO approach building a high performing leadership team?

The CEO focuses on understanding the unique strengths of each leader and encourages them to share their expertise with the team. This creates a supportive environment where leaders can help each other during challenging times.

Q: How does Instacart promote collaboration and teamwork across different functions?

The CEO encourages leaders to apply their skills outside of their function, promoting collaboration and problem-solving across the entire company. This approach leads to better teamwork and a stronger business.

Q: Has anyone been deterred from joining Instacart due to the CEO's realistic approach during the hiring process?

Yes, and the CEO considers it a positive outcome. Scaring off candidates who are not fully committed ensures that only those with genuine grit and dedication join the company.

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the process of assembling high-performing teams in startups. They talk about attracting the right people, assessing their suitability, and ensuring seamless collaboration within the team.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does the speaker attract the right people for their team?

The speaker believes that attracting talent is twofold. It's not just about recruiting like a magnet, but also being like a bouncer. They share their experience of making Mish hires, where the candidates seemed exceptional but turned out to be a poor fit. To attract the right people, the speaker emphasizes the importance of doing due diligence to understand their fit with the company culture, compatibility with the team, and their commitment to the challenge.

Q: How does the speaker assess the suitability of potential hires?

The speaker mentions a significant step in the hiring journey where they have an hour-long conversation with every executive candidate. During this conversation, the speaker openly discusses all the reasons why the candidate should not join their company. This approach surprises many candidates but helps to identify those who are truly committed and determined to face the challenges of a startup. By scaring off potential hires who are not up for the task, the speaker ensures that the team consists of individuals with the necessary grit and motivation.

Q: How does the speaker promote seamless collaboration within the team?

The speaker focuses on understanding each individual's strengths and unleashing their magic as part of the leadership team. They share an exercise they do during leadership team dinners, where they highlight and encourage each leader to share their expertise and train others in the group. This practice fosters a sense of mutual support and enables leaders to assist each other during tough times by leveraging their unique skills and superpowers. The speaker aims to break the traditional boundaries of job roles and encourage leaders to apply their superpowers across functions, leading to better collaboration and resilience in the business.

Q: Can the speaker provide an example of how they encourage cross-functional collaboration?

The speaker gives an example of their Chief Comes Officer, who excels at getting extreme consistency and productivity from their team. Instead of confining her expertise to her specific function, the speaker encourages her to share her skill set with the product and engineering teams, who could benefit from her abilities. By encouraging leaders to apply their superpowers outside of their primary function, the speaker aims to facilitate more collaboration on company-wide problems and increase the overall resilience of the business.

Q: Has the speaker ever scared away potential hires by giving them a realistic view of the company?

Yes, the speaker admits to scaring away potential hires, but they see it as a positive outcome. They believe that if a candidate is scared off by the reality of the company during the hiring process, it's better for both parties. It signifies that the candidate may not have the necessary determination and commitment required for a startup environment. By scaring off candidates who are not up for the challenge, the speaker ensures that only those who truly believe in the company's mission and are willing to weather the ups and downs of a startup join the team.

Q: How does the speaker ensure that potential hires are aligned with the company culture?

The speaker emphasizes the importance of spending more time on due diligence to assess whether potential hires align with the company culture. They believe it's crucial to determine if the candidates are complementary to the existing team and if they are taking on the challenge for the right reasons. By thoroughly understanding a candidate's motivations and fit with the culture, the speaker aims to assemble a team that can work seamlessly together and contribute to the long-term success of the business.

Q: How does the speaker view their leadership team?

The speaker considers their leadership team as a collective set of leaders who run the company together. They don't limit the leaders to their specific titles or job roles. Instead, they encourage leaders to see themselves as partners in making the business better. By promoting a shared responsibility and emphasizing the importance of collaboration, the speaker fosters a sense of unity and encourages leaders to focus on company-wide problems rather than just their individual functions.

Q: How does the speaker unleash the magic of their leadership team?

The speaker believes in understanding the unique qualities and capabilities of each individual in the leadership team and empowering them to utilize their strengths. During leadership team dinners, the speaker highlights the "magic" they see in each leader and invites them to share their expertise with the rest of the team. This practice creates an environment where leaders help each other and leverage their superpowers, leading to better collaboration and support during challenging times. By recognizing and unleashing the magic within the team, the speaker aims to create a more resilient and successful business.

Q: What is the benefit of encouraging leaders to apply their superpowers outside of their function?

Encouraging leaders to apply their superpowers beyond their specific function has multiple benefits. It promotes cross-functional collaboration and enables leaders to contribute to company-wide problems. It also enhances the team's ability to handle challenges by leveraging the unique skills and expertise of each leader. By breaking the boundaries of job roles and encouraging leaders to apply their superpowers across the company, the speaker believes they can create a more cohesive and resilient team.

Q: How does the speaker ensure that the team can handle the ups and downs of a startup?

The speaker emphasizes the need for recruiting individuals who have grit, are committed to being there, and are willing to face the ups and downs of a startup. By thoroughly assessing the suitability of potential hires, scaring off candidates who are not up to the task, and building a leadership team that supports each other, the speaker aims to create a team that can weather the challenges. They believe that having the right people who are determined and motivated significantly contributes to the team's ability to handle the ups and downs and ultimately lead the business to success.

Takeaways

Assembling high-performing teams in startups requires attracting the right people, assessing their suitability, and promoting seamless collaboration. To attract talent effectively, it's crucial to do due diligence and ensure candidates are compatible with the company culture and team. Assessing suitability should involve scaring off candidates who may not have the determination and commitment required for a startup. Seamless collaboration is fostered by understanding each individual's strengths, unleashing their magic, and encouraging cross-functional collaboration. By building a team that can handle the ups and downs of a startup, startups can increase their chances of long-term success.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Attracting talent involves not only trying to attract them but also thoroughly assessing if they are a good fit for the company culture and team dynamics.

• The CEO spends time understanding each individual's strengths and unleashing their potential as part of a cohesive leadership team.

• Creating a culture of collaboration and cross-functional support leads to increased resiliency and problem-solving capabilities in the business.