Find out their wins above replacement. Through the stories they tell, look to see if the end result of the thing they did would have been significantly worse without their involvement. Try to separate their actions from those of their team or the circumstance. This quality should both highlight their talents and their sense of agency and

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Consider a manager selecting between two applicants, the first with a Harvard degree and the second without. Even if the manager has learned that the second applicant is more qualified for the job, in many workplaces it would be more prudent for the manager to choose the first applicant. If the manager passes up the first applicant in favor of the

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Never hire people for “cultural fit.” What a pernicious term. Instead, hire insanely talented people for their “cultural contribution.” For how unique they are. For why they are different from you. For what they will add that you do not have.

In a world like that, my mind goes to, “How do you choose those 10 people?” One way is to choose people who are 10 times better than everyone else, who can produce 10 times more, and who will be 10 times more valuable to the business. The other way is to choose people based on whether you enjoy working with them, if they make you better, or if they

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