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Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, openly admits that he doesn't know much about technology or management. Despite this, he built one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. His secret? Surrounding himself with people who are smarter than he is.
Photo: Economic Times
"I know nothing about technology, I know that nothing about management I know nothing about," Ma said. "But the only thing is that you don't have to know a lot of things. You have to find the people who are smarter than you are."
From the very beginning, Ma focused on recruiting individuals who were experts in their fields. He sought out people who were more knowledgeable about computers, accounting, and various other areas essential to building a successful company.
"My first way is always to find people who are knowledgeable on computer smarter than I am, accounting smart. And for so many years I always try to find the people smarter than I am," he explained.
But Ma didn't stop at just hiring smart people. He understood that his role as a leader was to create an environment where these talented individuals could collaborate effectively.
"When you find so many smart people, my job is to make sure the smart people can work together," he emphasized.
By fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual respect, Ma ensured that his team could achieve great things together.
This approach is not unique to Jack Ma. Another entrepreneur who shares this philosophy is Steve Jobs. Jobs once said,
"It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do."
Like Ma, Jobs believed in empowering his team to take the lead and drive innovation.
A well-known case study that illustrates the power of hiring smart people and fostering collaboration is Google. Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the co-founders of Google, were both brilliant in their own right, but they also recognized the importance of surrounding themselves with talented individuals. They famously hired Eric Schmidt as CEO to provide the managerial expertise they lacked. Schmidt's leadership, combined with the innovative ideas from Page, Brin, and the rest of the team, helped Google grow into the tech giant it is today.
Another example comes from Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg, while being a talented programmer, knew that he couldn't build Facebook into a global platform on his own. He brought in Sheryl Sandberg as COO, who had extensive experience in business operations and management. Sandberg's strategic insights and leadership played a crucial role in Facebook's expansion and profitability.
In conclusion, Jack Ma's success with Alibaba demonstrates the power of recognizing your own limitations and surrounding yourself with people who can fill those gaps. By hiring smart people and fostering a collaborative environment, Ma was able to build a company that revolutionized e-commerce. This lesson is echoed by other successful entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, who also understood that empowering a talented team is key to achieving great things.
Listen to Jack Ma: