The Hardest Lesson I’ve Learned About Building a Team
I wish I could say I got team building right the first time. I didn’t.
Like most founders, I thought hiring meant finding people who were great on paper. Impressive CVs. Big-name companies. The kind of profiles that made me feel like I was levelling up my business.
But here’s the truth: the hardest lesson I’ve learned is that skills alone don’t build great teams. Alignment does.
Like most founders, I thought hiring meant finding people who were great on paper. Impressive CVs. Big-name companies. The kind of profiles that made me feel like I was levelling up my business.
But here’s the truth: the hardest lesson I’ve learned is that skills alone don’t build great teams. Alignment does.
My mistake
I once hired someone who looked perfect on paper. They had all the credentials, all the experience, all the references. But what they didn’t have was belief in the mission.
And without that, things started breaking down. Misaligned priorities. Missed opportunities. The energy wasn’t there, and neither was the commitment. It cost us time, money, and momentum.
It was one of the most expensive mistakes I’ve made as a founder—not just financially, but emotionally. Because when you’re small, every hire changes the culture.
And without that, things started breaking down. Misaligned priorities. Missed opportunities. The energy wasn’t there, and neither was the commitment. It cost us time, money, and momentum.
It was one of the most expensive mistakes I’ve made as a founder—not just financially, but emotionally. Because when you’re small, every hire changes the culture.
What I’d tell any founder
- Hire for mission first. Skills can be learned. Belief and energy can’t.
- Culture is fragile. One wrong hire can shift everything.
- Act fast when it’s not working. Hoping it will improve only drags everyone down.
The turning point
Once I shifted focus from “best CV” to “best fit for the mission,” everything changed. The right people not only did the work—they carried it further, brought ideas, and made me a better leader.
If you’re an early founder, hear this: building a team isn’t about filling seats. It’s about building belief.
That’s the hardest, but most important, lesson I’ve learned.
If you’re an early founder, hear this: building a team isn’t about filling seats. It’s about building belief.
That’s the hardest, but most important, lesson I’ve learned.