8 TED Talks to help build the ideal team at your startup

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone. Stacy Rose is chief operating officer and partner at AdamsGabbert, a staffing, IT services, and business consulting firm. This article was sponsored and produced by AdamsGabbert.

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As the country’s unemployment rate continues to improve, entrepreneurs are beginning to fill their rosters. Yet, in this tough economy, hiring managers must be even more selective than before. Building a top-notch team is about more than just identifying qualified candidates. Whether you’re an entrepreneur just starting out or a small business looking to infuse new energy into your team, I’ve compiled eight TED Talks focused on nurturing innovation, finding the best talent, and keeping your team engaged and happy.

Building the ideal team starts at the top

Fostering a culture of trust, transparency and collaboration starts in the C-suite. From eye-opening research into the real cause of unhappy teams to strategies for building trust and increasing diversity, here’s some inspiration and practical advice.  

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Confessions of a recovering micromanager, by Chieh Huang, co-founder and CEO, Boxed.com

If you’ve ever worked for a micromanager, you know how awful it feels to have your every move scrutinized. If you’ve ever been a micromanager, you probably know it’s not the most effective management style. In his TED Talk, Huang proposes a simple solution: trust.

“[Micromanagement is] taking great, wonderful, imaginative people … bringing them into an organization and then crushing their souls.” — Chieh Huang, co-founder and CEO of Boxed.com

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How to build a company where the best ideas win, by Ray Dalio, Founder, chair and co-chief investment officer, Bridgewater Associates 

You may have heard the term “radical transparency,” but what does it mean in practice? For starters, you need to create clarity around your processes and operations, and encourage your team to freely express and share their opinions.

Hiring the right people for your jobs

Experts in design, technology and equity share their research into hiring the right people and how that can help or harm your business. 

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Why the best hire might not have the perfect resume, by Regina Hartley, human resources expert

If you’re tossing out resumes based on a history of job-hopping, you may be bypassing your next rock star. HR expert Regina Hartley shares fascinating research why you should consider what she calls the “Scrappers” over the “Silver Spoons.”

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How to design gender bias out of your workplace, by Sara Sanford, gender equity expert

Companies spend billions on diversity and inclusion training, yet women are still underrepresented in leadership—especially in the tech space. Sara Sanford identifies the many small changes you can make to eliminate gender bias at your company.

“What matters is not the total percentage of female employees. Or the number of board members that are female … The factors that matter and that should be measured are under the surface.” — Sara Sanford, gender equity expert

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How diversity makes teams more innovative, by Rocío Lorenzo, management consultant, diversity

Treating diversity as a competitive advantage can have a tremendous impact on your team’s ability to innovate. It starts with deciding who to hire and who we promote, and data shows that more diverse companies are more innovative.

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Fostering success in your employees

Finding the right people for your workplace is one thing, but keeping them happy, engaged and productive is another. It’s not as simple as doling out extra perks, but it could be as simple as treating your employees the same way you treat your customers.

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This is what makes employees happy at work, by Michael C. Bush, equity visionary

You’ve probably heard the statistic that just 40 percent of people around the world say they’re happy at work. Equity expert Michael C. Bush shares insights into what’s making them so miserable, and how you can increase employee satisfaction in your workplace.

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How a company can nurture its internal rebels, by Shoel Perelman, rebel/intrapreneur

Startups are known for their scrappiness and whatever-it-takes dedication to growing. So, why do so many companies lose that startup mentality as they grow? Shoel Perelman examines “revolutionary innovation” and tactics for retaining your company’s internal rebels.

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Why we need to treat our employees as thoughtfully as our customers, by Diana Dosik, organizational disruptor

All companies want to understand their customers better, and there are myriad tools to help glean those insights. But research suggests flipping the script and that investing in learning more about their employees’ journeys is another important tool for building better companies.

“Companies spend a trillion dollars a year worldwide trying to understand and shape the journeys of their customers … Companies spend a thousand times less understanding and shaping the journeys of the people they depend on most: their own employees.” — Diana Dosik, organizational disruptor

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These approaches aren’t one-size-fits-all, and you’re the one who gets to define what the ideal team looks like for your business. As someone who has worked with teams at startups and established companies of all sizes — and as a leader of one of the best teams in Kansas City — I can tell you it’s a constant, worthwhile work in progress.

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Stacy Rose is chief operating officer and partner at AdamsGabbert and a driving force in the company’s growth. A certified Woman Owned Business (WBE), AdamsGabbert is a technology services firm where trust, transparency and collaboration matter. By investing in people and community, the company brings its partners the best talent and strategic solutions. Learn more at adamsgabbert.com.