'When someone is made the head of an office in the Ogilvy & Mather chain, I send him a Matrioshka doll from Gorky. If he has the curiosity to open it, and keep opening it until he comes to the inside of the smallest doll, he finds this message: If each of us hires people who are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarfs. But if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, we shall become a company of giants.'
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Hiring people smarter than yourself builds a stronger organization.
- In plain terms
- If leaders hire less capable people, the company shrinks; if they hire better people, it grows.
- What can you take from it?
- Hire people who exceed your own abilities.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do you hire people smarter than you?
- What stops leaders from hiring better talent?
Another view
Hiring people bigger than yourself requires trust and strong management skills.
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