Let’s be real: hiring someone who outshines you doesn’t mean you’ve hit your peak, it means you're recruiting champions. Surrounding yourself with top-tier talent doesn’t diminish leadership, it amplifies it. So why does hiring “smarter than me” often feel counterintuitive? It’s time to rethink.
Lead With Growth, Not Ego
Legendary leaders like Steve Jobs and Lee Iacocca built teams that outsmarted them, and it paid off.
Steve Jobs famously said, “It doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do.”
And Lee Iacocca was trademark crisp: “I hire people brighter than me and get out of their way.”
When you bring in smarter talent, you don’t lose control—you gain perspective, creativity, and confidence in your business.
Why Hire Up? The Business Case
Hiring people who are smarter than you isn’t just about stacking impressive resumes, it’s about bringing in fresh ideas and new ways of thinking that keep your business sharp. As recruiter Doug Magee from Day & Zimmermann says, hiring bright minds helps you build an “A Team” where everyone pushes each other to do better. When you surround yourself with smart people, decisions get stronger, and innovation starts to take off.
Beyond brainpower, hiring up helps build a culture of learning. This creates an environment where complacency isn’t an option everyone is continually learning, adapting, and growing.
It’s not just about performance it’s also about long-term savings. When you hire top talent who are deeply engaged and capable, you reduce mistakes, keep turnover low, and build a stable workforce that grows stronger over time.
And let’s not forget in today’s fast-moving world, staying smart is half the battle. Or as Bill Joy, co-founder of Sun Microsystems, put it, “Most of the smartest people work for someone else.” That’s why great leaders don’t try to know everything themselves, they focus on finding those brilliant people and bringing their talents into the fold.
How To Hire Up (Successfully)
- Set the bar high: Look beyond basic qualifications. Seek problem solvers, domain experts, creative visionaries.
- Step aside (sometimes): Lee Iacocca's wisdom applies beyond history: “get out of their way.” Let your smart hires lead, innovate, and run.
- Foster collaboration: Use their strengths to uplift the team. Peer mentoring, open debate, and role-swapping can boost everyone’s smarts.
Smart Words from Smart Leaders
“Try never to be the smartest person in the room. And if you are, invite smarter people … or find a different room.” —Michael Dell
“A great person attracts great people and knows how to hold them together.” —Goethe
Hiring someone smarter than you isn't a threat. It's a strategic winning investment in better ideas, higher standards, and continuous growth. True leadership isn’t about always being the brightest in the room, it’s about knowing how to bring in more light. So, go ahead. Hire Up. Your team and your bottom line will thank you.
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