Assembling the best team

THE mantra that "your people are your most important assets" is nowhere more dishonoured than when hiring. Two criteria dominate this activity - qualifications and experience. Both are valid for making a simple, preliminary assessment of someone - about as valid as age or the colour of their hair. Qualification is proof of a discipline to pass exams but it says nothing about your emotional quotient. Experience doesn't guarantee you can build, innovate, handle, or optimise a business. Past success is no guarantee of future glory. Knowing when and how to change is key.

Why are qualification and experience so depended on? Because they are easy to assess and to use as excuses should things go wrong. "S/he had a double first so I was entit…