With an audience made up mainly of entrepreneurs, Isla pointed out that one of the most complex moments and that can pose a risk for a company if it is not managed well is attracting new talent to grow. In a start up, the founder is the key person in the process, since he has to know what type of profile the company needs and manage his integration into the culture of the organization. It is even more difficult when the decision is made to hire a person to lead key areas or even the company, if that is what it needs to continue growing.
“There is always someone stronger than you. One of my best pieces of advice is: surround yourself with people who are better than you, who will appreciate you and make teams grow,” she stated. “If you’re the smartest in the room, you’re in the wrong room,” he recalled.
Hence, Isla pointed out that it is best to create a culture in which people feel confident that they can challenge the leader. And stay humble, so “sometimes it’s even a good thing” for companies to go through a rough patch.
manage failure
Gasol knows well what the ups and downs are. In sports, he who does not win a title loses it, he recalled, and it is important to know how to manage those moments, which are an opportunity to grow and train again to take advantage of the new opportunity to win or lose the following season. “There are always turning points, we can make mistakes, we are human. The thing is to make a team, to know that we are in this together and that we have an opportunity to do better, “he said, recalling the response of NBA player Giannis Antetokounmpo, after his team, the Milwaukee Bucks, lost at the end of April in the playoffs (if you haven’t seen the video, it’s an interesting reflection on “failure”).
“Being an entrepreneur is similar to being an athlete, we have ups and downs and even suddenly we sign a contract and find ourselves with more money than we know what to do with it,” he said. And, if a company does not have the expected success, such as when an athlete’s career ends, you have to think and prepare for what comes next.
“For me, what is very important is to have my feet on the ground, to have a good environment and not to lose perspective,” he concluded. And, as a final piece of advice, he encouraged Isla and the audience to meditate. “It is not necessary to be in a room, with music or incense, it can be a moment with yourself in which you close your eyes, breathe and focus on yourself. It can be five minutes. It’s a matter of having the discipline (to do it daily) and see the effects and benefits. Everyone can do it”.