Interview and Select Talent Personally

Musk personally interviews key hires across his companies, believing that talent selection is too important to delegate entirely.

SpaceX. Musk personally interviewed every early SpaceX engineer, regardless of level, to ensure cultural and technical fit.

Tesla. He continues to interview all senior leaders, often conducting unconventional interviews to test problem-solving abilities.

Technical questions. His interviews include detailed technical questions to verify candidates’ depth of knowledge rather than relying on credentials.

This ensures that key hires align with the company’s mission and culture while possessing the required technical capabilities. It also signals the importance of talent to the entire organization.

Apply it. As CEO or founder, personally interview all candidates for key roles, no matter how busy you are. Develop a consistent set of questions that test for mission alignment and problem-solving ability.