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Gene Pool Engineering
Leadership / Tools
Deliberately shaping the team's composition to get the mix you need.
The Idea
The team's capabilities are determined by who's on it. "Gene pool engineering" means being intentional about what skills, perspectives, and working styles you bring in.
How to Apply
- Map your team's current strengths and gaps.
- Hire to complement, not to clone. If everyone thinks the same way, you have a blind spot.
- Consider: technical skills, domain knowledge, working style, cultural background, experience level.
- Balance experienced people with fresh perspectives.
What to Balance
- Builders and operators.
- Generalists and specialists.
- Introverts and extroverts.
- Risk-takers and risk-managers.
- Senior and junior (for mentoring and fresh ideas).
The Trap
Don't just hire for current needs. Think about where the team needs to go.
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