Building Brilliant Teams

How to Identify, Nurture, and Retain Exceptional Talent

Every successful business is built upon the strength and coherence of its team. However, assembling exceptional talent is not simply about hiring the right skills; it’s fundamentally about understanding oneself and those around you. As I emphasized in my TEDx talk, self-awareness — knowing your personal strengths, weaknesses, and unique style — is the bedrock upon which effective leadership and exceptional teams are built.

Cultivating what I refer to as “Founder DNA®” is a cornerstone of sustained business success. Founder DNA® represents the unique combination of skills, experiences, character traits, and core values that shape how founders lead and teams function. This foundational understanding enables leaders to attract and nurture talent, and importantly, retain exceptional individuals by aligning their strengths with the strategic goals of the organization.

Before scaling your team, it’s critical to clearly recognize your limitations and address your own areas for development. Leaders often mistakenly attribute team shortcomings to external factors, overlooking internal blind spots that significantly impact team performance. Emphasizing rigorous, personalized assessments can help reveal not just technical skills but also strategic thinking, communication styles, and leadership dynamics.

A holistic approach moves beyond standard personality tests. It delves into the intricate interplay between individual capabilities and team dynamics, empowering leaders to strategically address skill gaps and personality mismatches before they become detrimental. This proactive stance ensures team cohesion, boosts morale, and significantly improves productivity.

Retaining talent is as important as identifying and nurturing it. Exceptional individuals remain committed when they feel understood, valued, and strategically placed to leverage their greatest strengths. Providing personalized insights into each team member’s motivators, potential stressors, and optimal growth paths can substantially enhance retention and overall team satisfaction.

Ultimately, building brilliant teams involves laying a critical foundation of deep self-awareness, strategic alignment, and authentic understanding. By recognizing and nurturing each individual’s unique strengths, businesses can not only assemble exceptional talent but also ensure their teams thrive and succeed together.

Let’s redefine leadership and teamwork — because exceptional talent deserves exceptional leadership and it starts with you!

— Fernanda Carapinha, Founder/CEO of WE Global

Originally Published on Medium: https://medium.com/@fernandacarapinha/building-brilliant-teams-e0b0e019eb0a