How To Build A World-Class Team
The people who make up your team will ultimately determine your success. They
As the crypto market faces a bear market, the emphasis of Web3 companies shifts inward. It is a time to build, a time to focus on the products offered and address the processes in which individual companies and the entire industry function. But at the end of the day, a lot comes down to the people.
The people who make up your team will ultimately determine your success. They are the ones who will take a company and this industry to new heights. Building a world-class team is essential to operational excellence.
At Stardust, we have focused on hiring for talent, skill, and pedigree. Our team comes from extremely successful backgrounds, both in big-tech and non-big tech. But a world-class team is more than just a collection of individuals with impressive credentials.
What makes a team world-class is its ability to come together and function as one unit that trusts and respects one another. They can have difficult conversations without fear of conflict. They can align on a shared vision and execute.
As Stardust has grown, the initial hiring philosophy has cascaded throughout the organization. In addition, we look at these 6 core things across the board:
1. Is this somebody that I would want to work for one day?
The ability to lead does not come from a title. It comes from character traits and a way of thinking.
2. Does this person have the ability to give the leadership team feedback?
It’s easy for a leadership team to give feedback, but growth comes when it is a two-way conversation. Everybody in the company needs to feel as though they can give the leaders feedback.
3. What diversity does this candidate bring?
Not just the diversity of classes, but the diversity of thought, experience, and background.
4. Is the candidate fun?
It’s hard work and the industry is going through a lot of ups and downs, but at the end of the day, it’s cool being at the forefront of something new like Web3. The ability to not take oneself too seriously and infuse levity is key to strong team camaraderie.
5. How analytical is the candidate?
If you give the candidate an ambiguous problem, how do they go from A to Z and can they explain how they got there. Looking for people that are thoughtful, logical, and approach things in a step-by-step manner as they solve problems is really important.
6. How do they function in a team?
Team players are key to operational excellence. It’s not just about being the smartest person in the room, but being able to function as part of a unit. The ability to help another co-worker on any task is key. We are all human, and not everyone is going to have their best day every day. On those days, you need your teammates to help you and lift you into a good place.
If a candidate checks 5 or 6 of these they are likely to be a strong addition to the team.
Hiring great people is the first step. Once you have a team, how do you set them up for success as individuals and as a whole?
With every individual we hire we do the following 4 things:
- Define clear goals
- Remove roadblocks
- Empower your team
- Hold your team accountable
Taking the hiring philosophy and implementing these four things we feel has allowed us to create a culture where things get done at faster speeds, mistakes are learned from, and everybody still enjoys their experience.
Building a world-class team doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, energy, and patience. The most important thing is to have a clear and concise vision that everyone in the organization understands. This starts with the leadership team being on the same page and then cascading it down.
The team is the heart of every company. It is this team that will take Web3 and blockchain gaming to new heights.
About Stardust
Stardust is a SaaS, blockchain agnostic, platform that offers a seamless “low code” integration of NFTs for game studios. To learn more, you can schedule time with our sales team here.
