Tips for Building a Great Tech Team

Strong tech employees are a huge asset for any company. As technology becomes a larger part of everyday business, companies need talented tech workers who can keep things running smoothly, make helpful suggestions, and make sure the company is set up for future success.

So how do you go about building this dream (tech) team? Needs will vary from company to company, but there are some basic principles you should keep in mind. Here are some tips we find invaluable when building your company’s tech team.

Determine your needs.

What are your company’s tech needs? If you’re a small company, you may just need one or two people to manage software and keep the website running. Large companies will need much more—entire departments that focus on different aspects of company technology. Either way, it’s important to know what your tech team needs to achieve. Do your research and make a list of current and potential tech-related needs. (Also, determine whether your company would be better served by an in-house team or an outsourced team. Many companies are able to get by using a third-party company.)

Start with someone you trust.

Your first tech hire should be someone in a leadership position, and it should be someone that you trust in terms of skill and company culture fit. Take your time with this hire; this is likely the person that will have the greatest impact on the team’s ultimate performance.

Focus on quality.

Great tech professionals take pride in what they do, and they don’t want to be seen as an employee who is there to do the bare minimum and check the “tech guy” box. Make sure you communicate to candidates that your company prioritizes quality. This will help you attract top talent who want to create a quality tech experience for you and your clients.

Go for diversity.

To outsiders, tech work can seem very straightforward and mechanical. But many tech-related problems require creativity, ingenuity, and collaboration to solve. Because of this, making sure you build a diverse team will serve you well. Each person’s perspective and experience will help the entire team be more effective in the long run.

Don’t forget culture.

One piece of hiring advice we seem to give over and over is this: culture is king. An employee who is a culture fit within your company will almost always perform better than one who isn’t. Hire with culture in mind, and after hiring, make sure the tech team is held to the cultural standards of the entire company.

Express excitement.

When you’re trying to attract great tech talent, they’ll want to know that technology is a priority to you and your company. This will include things like budgeting for hardware and software updates, willingness to try new programs, and overall excitement for the technological advances the new team could bring to your company. Don’t act like technology is totally over your head or that you “don’t care, as long as it works.” When you express interest and excitement, you’ll communicate that you see technology as an important part of your company’s future success.

Building a tech team can feel like a daunting task, especially if you’re starting from scratch. But technology isn’t really an option in business anymore: it’s a requirement. Embrace it! Follow these tips to help you build a great team, and you’ll be able to attract and keep talented tech professionals.

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