Workers identify strongly with family, friends, and other social and ethnic group affiliations. These bonds are the basis of trust, and thus, the basis of any sound business. People tend to trust those that they know or have a connection with. When you’re building a startup team, these in-group and out-of-group relationships must be considered.
They can, in fact, be more important than other considerations, such as relative skillsets. Because a group composed of members that can’t relate to each other, or don’t like each other, will struggle to collaborate effectively.
Your job is to find workers that share common bonds and work well together. When these connections are strained, it’s up to you to promote feelings of identity and close personal affiliation. Ideally, your staff will possess the bulk of the skills you require, but remember that these can be taught. Group dynamics are harder to navigate.
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