Is A Former Political Staffer Right For Your Tech Startup?
Since it is the political season and everyone is talking politics…let’s change the dialogue a bit to discuss the people who work on political campaigns and what they do after the elections or when their candidates drop out.
While these people are probably very smart and successful should you hire them for your tech startup?
The answer is not simple and there are many factors to weigh but let’s look at a few big considerations you might want to consider before you offer them a job at your tech startup.
Can they work at “startup speed” and with startup structures and budgets?
Many people who work on campaigns thrive in bureaucracy and “politics”. Yes, this is a generalization but I have seen it firsthand. Hours and hours of meetings. Tools for managing projects and then tools to manage all the tools. You will sit in meetings and have to bring up PowerPoint (or Google doc versions) of multiple documents just to get to the main point. Effective startup teams just want to get “stuff” done and out the door.
There is a time and place for process and policy but usually not at an early stage company. Find people who want to color outside the lines and who are willing to get their hands dirty in the trenches.
Is hierarchy and title important to them?
Politics is full of hierarchy and many people who work in those environments have a hard time breaking down the barriers. The best startups don’t stand on ceremony. The CEO will work with the college grad just as quickly as they will the CMO. If titles and “corp structure” are important then you should “vote” to pass on hiring them.
Speed to deliver is critical
Let’s face it, most campaigns drag on for months. Those who work for the candidates love those environments. They can take all the time they need to deliver the final results (a win). When you work for startups you have to deliver every day and no one has time for months of “planning” and process. You just have to get stuff done. Can they deliver or is there always a delay or dependency in the way of progress?
Technology will be your downfall
Before you jump all over me…I know this sounds counter intuitive and many startups live by technology but if you live by the KISS principle you will be better off. One startup had so many technology tools it took 3 development teams to manage and if there were bugs or enhancements everything had to be synchronized. Can you say fail? Campaigns have tons of data but don’t let the data at your startup slow you down. Use what you have, figure out ways to get what you need but don’t be tempted by the allure of the green grass and try to get everything everyone else has. The company referenced earlier hired a CTO who constantly complicated matters by referring back to his campaign days. Yes, getting new perspective is good but don’t let it slow you down.
Smaller is better
In political campaigns the teams get very large and for good reason. These folks love to have lots of people around them or as part of their team. In startups your team might just be you or a few other hard working people who don’t have time for meetings and just want to get the work out the door.
Good is “good enough”
Politicians have teams of people polishing and messaging every detail of their campaigns. It is easy to be attracted to making sure everything is always perfect and “just right”. In startups you can’t let perfection be the enemy of good. Just ship and deliver. All it takes is one wrong person in an influential position at a startup to slow down the system and delay progress and the business success.
So the next time you want to hire a “candidate” for your tech startup just make sure they are not a politician. For a startup to succeed find people who excel in those environments and don’t get enamored by one success. There are many more challenges to overcome in the early days.
Did we miss anything? Disagree? Let me know.
