LeoLin990405 Lenny Skills: Hiring & Team Building
13 actionable skills for building and managing product teams.
Skills
1. Writing Job Descriptions
- Focus on outcomes, not just responsibilities
- Include growth opportunities and team culture
- Be specific about the problems they'll solve
2. Conducting Interviews
- Use structured interviews for consistency
- Focus on past behavior, not hypotheticals
- Include work samples or case studies
3. Evaluating Candidates
- Define clear rubrics before interviewing
- Look for learning velocity over current skills
- Check for culture add, not just culture fit
4. Onboarding New Hires
- Create 30-60-90 day plans
- Assign an onboarding buddy
- Set clear early wins
5. Building Team Culture
- Define team values explicitly
- Create rituals that reinforce culture
- Celebrate wins publicly
6. Running Effective 1:1s
- Let the report set the agenda
- Focus on coaching, not status updates
- Ask "What's blocking you?"
7. Having Difficult Conversations
- Be direct but kind
- Focus on behavior, not personality
- Follow up in writing
8. Delegating Work
- Delegate outcomes, not tasks
- Provide context, not just instructions
- Trust but verify
9. Managing Up
- Understand your manager's priorities
- Bring solutions, not just problems
- Over-communicate proactively
10. Building a Promotion Case
- Document impact continuously
- Seek feedback early and often
- Build visibility across the org
11. Negotiating Offers
- Know your market value
- Negotiate the whole package
- Get it in writing
12. Finding Mentors & Sponsors
- Mentors advise, sponsors advocate
- Be specific about what you need
- Give before you ask
13. Career Transitions
- Build skills before you need them
- Network continuously
- Take calculated risks