5 types of People you need for your Startup Team
to stay focused, in order for your Startup to be a Success with your Startup Team.
Most important Team Members: #1 Organizer, #2.Fixer, #3.Jack-of-All-Trades, #4.Closer, #5.Yes Man or Woman.
You’ve got a great idea for a product or service. You have a well-crafted business plan. You might even have – gasp! – a round of funding from a venture capitalist. You also have a Startup Team, but if they’re not the right type, your startup is probably going to fail in spite of all other factors.
What do I mean by the right types of people? I’m not talking about expertise, as that will need to vary depending on the industry, and I’m certainly not talking about formal titles. What I’m talking about are people with a certain mindset & attitude, independent of their role within the organization. Having worked at a few successful startups in the past, here are five (5) types of people I’ve come to view as essential:
#1. The Organizer. All startups are chaotic (if not, you’re probably doing something wrong). There’s a huge difference between general chaos & controlled chaos. That’s where The Organizer comes in. Despite all the tasks at hand, this person puts thing in order, defines & documents processes. Give them the title of COO (Chief Operations Officer) and the authority it takes to get this job done. Without someone dedicated to keeping things organized, your startup will be consumed by chaos & inefficiency and at a higher risk to fail.
#2. The Fixer. Remember Winston Wolfe from “Pulp Fiction”, otherwise known as The Fixer? If you recall, he was called in to clean up a fairly serious mess (dead body). When something goes wrong at your startup (hopefully not a dead body – Wiz4biz) you’ll need a person that can quickly assess the situation and implement a solution with extreme precision. Startup Founders like to use the phrase “Fail Fast”, but this only works when you have someone who can resolve those failures and turn them into learning experieces & success.
#3. The Jack-of-All-Trades. Like Frank Abagnale, the famous con artist in “Catch Me If You Can”, every startup needs someone that is capable of wearing multiple hats; who can adapt to any situation at a moment’s notice. In practical terms, such a person would be able to write, design, code, sell & manage multiple projects simultaneously. As the company grows, they will need to settle on a specific area of expertise. But when staff is limited (and budgets are tight) the Jack-of-all-Trades becomes an indispensable member to you as the Founder and to the team.
#4. The Closer. Does your new product or service sell itself? Of course not, which is why you need someone with a “killer instinct” to close new deals. Obviously, every company needs a Sales & Marketing, but selling an unproven concept to a skeptical market requires a special type of salesmanship. They must have passion, knowledge & incredibly thick skin. They must sell the product or service as if their life depended on it. The life of your Startup does. Make them CMO (Chief Marketing Officer). Ideally, they’ve had experience at another Startup – where they found the marketing “niche” for the product, the planned a champaign to capture the customers – and it was successful !!!
#5. The Yes or Man or Woman. Ever had a co-worker who shot down every new idea? If this person is part of your startup, you’re in big trouble. Although you don’t want the traditional Yes man, you do want people who are optimistic, open to new ideas, & who believe that any goal is attainable. Give them the title CCO2 (Chief Cheerleader Officer, too). Make sure their involved in all appropriate parts of your startup to motive your team to higher achievement. Startups are defined by their Vision. The CCO2 should help your Startup stay focused & motivated to achieve that Vision !!!
Comments: Is there any other type of person – you think is needed – on your Startup Team?
from Venture Fizz.com 19 Nov 14 enhanced by Peter/CXO Wiz4biz