As a startup grows, it’s natural to hire more employees. But how do you know which type of employee is the best fit for your company? Successful entrepreneurs have their own theories on what makes each kind of employee successful in various roles and identify this knowledge when hiring new members to the team.
Joining a startup before series A is one of the most challenging journeys you can take. It’s going to be difficult, but it will also provide you with a lot of opportunities. You just have to know how to manage your team members and yourself. Read more in detail here: joining a startup before series a.
A buddy introduced me to a notion he termed “Serengeti Management” some years ago, when I was just starting out as an entrepreneur. His notion was that as a new boss, I’d have to deal with a variety of personalities, each represented by a species that might be seen wandering the East African plains.
Of course, he was joking—your staff aren’t a herd of animals fighting for life at a Tanzanian watering hole—but they may behave like it at times.
I forgot about Serengeti Management for a time while I became busy operating my enterprises. On one of those days when I’d rather tear my eyelashes out with pliers than deal with another staff problem, it all came flooding back to me.
Serengeti Management immediately struck to me as a potentially beneficial management method.
In order to successfully manage them, I needed a better technique to swiftly recognize the many personalities I was working with. After all, I was entrusting them with my most valuable business. Of course, Serengeti Management is reductive, but when you’re running a new business, you’ll quickly learn that if you can’t find a way to laugh on certain days, you’ll want to flee—possibly to the Serengeti.
Serengeti’s Five Employee Types
Gazelles, number one
Gazelles are by far the most plentiful staff species you’ll come across on your company safari. They come in a variety of personality types and temperaments, but they all have one trait: a near-universal dislike to departing from the herd. To make it till the next payment, these people keep their heads down. Because of their aversion to change, gazelles are seldom seen as leaders or innovators. They tend to be predictable, yet they may also be thin-skinned. Gazelles are ready to blame others when anything goes wrong in order to maintain their mediocrity. Expect him to run from crisis to crisis, leaving turmoil and incomplete projects in his wake if you ever have to hold him responsible.
2. There are monkeys.
Monkeys are workers who, although being intelligent and talented, are prone to slacking off at work. Monkeys might be difficult to manage, but don’t dismiss their value. Monkeys can inject some much-needed levity into the workplace. Although the monkeys, unlike the hyenas, may be disruptive and difficult to encourage, they can usually be handled.
3. Hyenas
Hyenas are the workplace’s scavengers. Opportunists, compulsive liars, and backstabbers are who they are. Office gossip is devoured by hyenas as if it were the corpse of a recently slaughtered gazelle, leaving behind broken emotions and productivity. Hyenas will shred your company apart from the inside out if left alone.
4. Lions
Lions are simple to detect since their hubris frequently overshadows their strengths. They might come out as arrogant or, worse, bullies in the job. Because lions aren’t known for tolerating mediocrity, gazelles might be great targets for your team’s lions. Lions, on the other hand, may become some of your most important and trusted team members if you understand how to handle them. They make effective salesmen and managers because of their confidence, even though their abrasiveness might lead to disputes with employees.
5. Rhinos
Rhinos are those that put their nose to the grindstone and complete any work they are given. They are reliable and sturdy. They’re also quite uncommon. You’ll be fortunate if you have one or two on your payroll if you manage a small to mid-sized business. Every rhino owner/manager should make it a top priority to protect and care for their animals.
Taking Care of the Animals in Your Startup
Gazelle herding
Because gazelles are many in the workforce, you’ll be surrounded by them as you embark on your entrepreneurial journey. With the exception of rhinos, they are naturally conflict-avoidant and need less supervision than your other workers. I’ve worked with hundreds of gazelles over the years and have mixed feelings about them. Yes, they made my job as a manager simpler, but they also didn’t help my company’s productivity or development. They seldom leave an impact during their employment, and much less so after they go. For years, I worked closely with multiple gazelles, yet I still have trouble recalling their names when I’m asked about them.
Wrangling Monkeys is a game about wrangling monkeys.
Monkeys are my favorite animals. I really believe that. Despite the fact that the ones I employed needed near-constant supervision and regular pushing to keep on track, they were a net plus for my enterprises. One lady in particular had such a contagious sense of humour that she would spontaneously generate new clients for my custom frame store. The boost in income flow more than compensated for the time she had squandered. She enhanced employee morale by keeping the rest of the workforce in near-constant stitches. She’s still a buddy and one of my favorite—and most memorable—employees of all time, even after all these years.
Keeping Hyenas at Bay
I wouldn’t use a time machine to go back in time and stroll with dinosaurs or kill Adolph Hitler if I had one. Instead, I’d use it to stop myself from employing hyenas when I was younger. Hyenas are attractive animals that are sometimes mistaken for lions. Don’t be deceived. In my career, I’ve only recruited a couple of these sociopaths, but wow, did they ever leave an impact. One individual (who I didn’t hire—he was a holdover from a previous owner) would negotiate “special” agreements with my customers outside of shop hours and pocket the cash. Another lady had such a problem with authority that she would try to ruin my company by slandering me in front of my customers and employees. I let it deteriorate into a shouting match when it came time to fire her. I still wince when I think of that incident, even though it happened more than a decade ago. I should have expected it. She made a snarky remark about a prior employer during her interview. I shrugged it off at the time, but I’ll never do that again. Take note of any warning indicators alerting you to a possible hyena and run away from these crazy-makers in the other direction, even if your field of candidates for a job is small.
Keeping Lions in Check
Taming a lion, in my opinion, is a great investment in your company. If you hire too many people, you’ll have problems, but if you put one or two in crucial positions, your firm will take off! These individuals are prone to becoming irrational, and they may need almost as much monitoring as the monkeys on your payroll (just be prepared to do more ego stroking than prodding). Keep in mind that lions are more likely than other sorts of workers to be driven by money, status, and titles. One of the ladies who worked with me took over as manager after I sold my frame business to inexperienced proprietors. She then launched her own store. She is now a very successful businesswoman. She was unmistakably a lioness. If you’re reading this, you’re probably one of them.
Rhinos are being protected.
Rhinos, like gazelles, like to keep a low profile. They aren’t driven by fear as gazelles are. These folks, on the other hand, take pleasure in their job and strive to do their best. They’re seldom management material since they’d rather avoid dealing with rubbish themselves, but when they do anything, they typically do it correctly the first time. They have thick skin and can tolerate constructive criticism, but a job well done is their primary incentive. However, because of their dependability, they are prone to overburden; owners should avoid putting too much reliance on their rhinos. You should learn to detect one during the interview, much like the hyena, but for the opposite reason. Then, on the spot, employ her. When my business partner was interviewing someone for a job at our firm, the candidate glanced over and smiled so warmly that I felt like I’d known her for a long time. I knew she’d get the job within 30 seconds of meeting her. She remained with me for years, and we’re still close—just don’t tell her I called her a rhinoceros.
The “3 types of employees cnbc” is a blog post by CNBC about the different types of employee you’ll find on your startup journey. The article includes 5 types, and how to manage them.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to manage employees in a start up?
A: In a start-up, you have to be more hands on with your employees. You can offer them feedback and praise but also the opportunity for growth through learning from mistakes. Doing this will help build morale within the company and give everyone an incentive to work hard.
What are the different types of employees?
A: There are several different types of employees, but the most common type is a full-time employee.
How do startups find employees?
A: Startups typically find employees through word of mouth. If an employee is interested in the company, then they will talk to their friends about it and that may lead them to a possible job opportunity there.
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