“To succeed as a team is to hold all of the members accountable for their expertise.”

People are naturally proud of what they know and are good
at, which is why it is a good idea to put your team members
in the spotlight once in a while. Mitchell Caplan, former CEO
of eTrade Financial Corp, believes you need to be sure your
team really has the expertise needed to succeed. Most
times, the best way to do that is to hire people who already
have the right experience for the job.

However, sometimes you are better served hiring people with
the skills for the job but not the specific expertise. For example,
if you fire someone who has worked in a marketing
department and is good at juggling multiple tasks, she may
be the right person you need for a very busy office.

Even when you hire someone with the fundamental skill sets,
it is your responsibility to make sure the person gets the
specialised training he or she needs. In fact, do encourage
your employees to constantly further their education – no
matter what interests them. Learning to play music teaches
people how to be detailed; and learning to dance gives them
energy and enthusiasm! Encourage employees to take seminars,
workshops, and courses in skills that are directly
related to their jobs.

By making sure you have hired the best people and continuing
to train and groom them, you can confidently hold each
team member accountable for their expertise.