Consistency over Capability

Throughout my professional  journey, I have encountered exceptionally brilliant individuals. Yet, I prefer to have only a select few of them on my team.

Brilliance has its merits, but most work environments strive towards consistently delivering excellence every time, on time. While brilliant minds can generate stunning ideas, a team’s success is not solely built on ideas. It requires team members who can ensure great execution and follow through to achieve tangible results.

You don’t need groundbreaking ideas every single day; what you need is the assurance of consistent, high-quality delivery daily. Therefore, when it comes to building a team, I often prioritize consistency over sheer capability.

Think of it this way: when you dine out, you don’t just want a fantastic meal on a rare occasion; you want a good, reliable dining experience every single time. A chef who delivers Michelin-star quality one day but serves something inedible the next day will lose clients very quickly. On the other hand, a chef whose processes ensure a good meal every day and strives to up her capability steadily will retain clients and attract more over time.

There are times though that brilliance is what one needs to solve a pressing problem or to outmanoeuvre the competition. The lack of brilliance when needed could make you a dull and boring work place which gets left behind.

So, what’s more important to you: consistency or capability?