lenny-hiring

name	lenny-hiring
description	Hiring & team building skills from Lenny's Podcast - job descriptions, interviews, onboarding, culture
triggers	["hiring","job description","interview","onboarding","team culture",61,"difficult conversation","delegation","managing up","promotion","negotiation","mentor"]

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

Source

Lenny's Podcast | refoundai.com/lenny-skills