Key first employees
Generally so much is written about the founders/cofounders of a startup and growth stage companies including this blog and founders gets all the recognition for their vision and endeavour but there are set of people which goes unnoticed every time and they are first keys in that company.
I always believe more than the management and executive team company culture and work style, product mojo is set by these key early employees. No doubt Management has an impact in the organization, they drive the vision but execution is the key which is taken care by the first key hires.
Few bunch of people can really lift the team spirit and is so fascinating to see how well product development happens thanks to seamless coordination between teams. Those first three to six non-management hires in a startup help set the tone for how things get done and how people behave while they are doing it. One super charged bloke in those key hires can really energize the office environment. First employees also should understand that they going to make a profound impact in the company’s growth and they also should get the feeling of ownership rather than thinking just a job. Also founders and management team should give due credit to the first hires at appropriate time.
I was one of the first hires in a Indian startup which has raised $21M so far.
-Hitesh, vcBytes.com
Super Charged Bloke said,
Wrote on August 28, 2010 @ 6:40 am
I totally agree with you on this. However you would have mentioned that sometimes a few bad hires and acquisitions also prove fatal for the organization.
bhushan said,
Wrote on August 28, 2010 @ 7:14 pm
Key hires are more imp than anything else even more than funds and moreover not just techies but anyone making a difference counts. I read a quote stating “Pandu Runs infosys” by Mr. Narayan Murthi and Nilkeni. This guy does now show up anywhere but if ones digs you can really find out how useful he would have been through the infy journey. Was he a techie, marketing or sales head no. Find out.
Also you may find many startups today mentioning Raju’c Tea, Ramu’s Samosa, midnight bhurji by das, etc. in about us and culture. May be there should be an award for these people behind the scenes making companies successful. Say, VCB People Behind the Scene Awards – “VCB PBS Awards”
Hitesh said,
Wrote on August 30, 2010 @ 2:38 am
Yes completely agree here with you Superchargedbloke a few bad hires in the beginning can really hamper the product development, product strategy and fortunes of the company.