A Bugatti Veyron stuck on a speed breaker?

For me, this is a classic example of how leaders get it wrong when building or scaling their teams.

How often have you heard leaders say:
💠 “Let’s get the top talent.”
💠 “Let’s hire diverse candidates.”

These sound great, but without proper planning, they can lead to disastrous consequences.

👉 Hiring isn’t the goal – Enabling talent is:
Bringing in top talent or diverse candidates isn’t enough. The real goal is to create an environment where they can thrive and reach their full potential.
Look at the picture again—even the fastest car, a Bugatti, struggles when the environment isn’t right for it to perform.

Before hiring top talent, ask yourself:
1️⃣ Is the company culture aligned for these high-performing candidates?
2️⃣ Will the existing team be open to a new player performing at this level?
3️⃣ Is the work challenging enough to bring out their best?
4️⃣ Are you willing to invest your personal time to guide them through their first year?
5️⃣ Do you truly believe they belong in this environment?

If the answer to any of these is “No,” it might not be the right time to hire.

👉 And if you are the Bugatti stuck on the speed-breaker…

If you’ve landed in an organization and feel stuck, don’t doubt your capabilities. There will always be people watching—not to cheer you on, but to see how you handle these challenges.

You might see auto-rickshaws navigating speed breakers effortlessly while you struggle. That doesn’t mean you aren’t capable. It just means you should be driving on the Autobahn, not on these roads.

💡Remember, as much as you believe in your strengths, it is more important for you to know your limitations.

The right environment matters as much as your talent.