Many leaders use some version of the 4Cs when hiring or bringing a new person on the team. Character, Competence, Chemistry, and Capacity to grow. Wise leaders know that character must be at the top of the list. But there is some disagreement on what comes next: chemistry or competence. Is chemistry with the team based on shared values more important than competence to do the role well? Or does competence top chemistry?
Here is what I have learned. Character first, but go with chemistry second. Two reasons: (1) The collective competence of the team can raise the competence of the person. (2) But the collective chemistry of the team does not raise the person’s chemistry. The opposite is true. One person not fully bought into the mission and values of the team can actually lower the collective chemistry of the team. The team can help fill in competence gaps. The team suffers from chemistry gaps. Character first. Chemistry second.
