Jack Altman, CEO of Lattice, explains why startups require reliable median performers rather than attempting to staff exclusively with top-tier talent.
“Basically no companies can afford to pay top one percent talent and comp
You know, for the whole company. Like you actually need people who are sort of in the median around the median.”
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More from Jack Altman
Insight
Founder CEOs possess unique moral authority over professional CEOs
“One of the things that's unique about founder CEOs relative to like a professional CEO is you do have this extra chip of moral authority that lets you shake things up and keep the startup feeling like a startup even when you are at scale, and one of the ways y…”
Jack AltmanJul 6, 2023▶ 16:28Lessons in leadership | Scaling an org and tactical management advice | Jack Altman (Lattice)
Insight
Consensus-driven startup cultures create massive inefficiency at scale
“Lattice in the early days had a culture that was what I would describe as very consensus driven, very inclusive in terms of the way that we came to conclusions on ideas.
we really got to places as groups.
And I think that actually worked really well for us in…”
Jack AltmanJul 6, 2023▶ 5:00Lessons in leadership | Scaling an org and tactical management advice | Jack Altman (Lattice)
Insight
Scaling requires balancing relentless hubris with radical humility
“And this is one of the great paradoxes is that to, you know, have the hubris to start a company and to think that you're going to change some big and existing industry, you kind of have to feel in a certain way, like above the sort of normal decisions and the …”
Jack AltmanJul 6, 2023▶ 12:15Lessons in leadership | Scaling an org and tactical management advice | Jack Altman (Lattice)
Insight
Founders should never permanently relinquish their core functional spike
“I think there are, for most founders, you'll have at least one thing you should never give up or at least that you shouldn't give up permanently. Commonly those things are going to be either product sales or marketing.”
Jack AltmanJul 6, 2023▶ 14:59Lessons in leadership | Scaling an org and tactical management advice | Jack Altman (Lattice)
Insight
Micromanagement is an extremely important tool that CEOs must use sparingly
“I believe that micromanaging has a very bad rap and is extremely important and effective. And I believe CEOs should do it. I believe executives should do it. I believe managers should do it. I just believe it's a tool that you should use sparingly and know wha…”
Jack AltmanJul 6, 2023▶ 19:11Lessons in leadership | Scaling an org and tactical management advice | Jack Altman (Lattice)
Insight
Solid, low-growth performers are the backbone of many successful companies
“There's lots of times when the absolute right thing for someone to do in a well-performing but low growth situation is to be happy with that. That's like the backbone on which a lot of companies are built.”
Jack AltmanJul 6, 2023▶ 49:39Lessons in leadership | Scaling an org and tactical management advice | Jack Altman (Lattice)
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