Throughout the years of managing a growing team, there are a number of observations you make and situations that arise that get you thinking about people, in general. When your company‘s headcount starts growing, you naturally start observing character traits, mindset, and psychology of people, among many other things. One of those thoughts is the question of work ethic versus skill. When you’re in a dynamic startup-type environment, there are several ups and downs which can expose the true character in a lot of people.

One of the first things you look for when filling positions to grow your team, is if the person is qualified and has the skills to perform the job well. That goes without saying. Work ethic on the other hand, while very important, is a pretty hard character trait to judge during the hiring process. That involves a lot of intuition and gut. It’s only in turbulent times, where the true character traits of individuals are brought to the forefront.

Now, the question is, who would you rather have on your team to fight through the tough times? Someone with great skills or someone with greater work ethic? The answer may not be so obvious once you start peeling back the layers.

I would much rather have someone screw up a few times, and be 100% committed and dedicated to my company, rather than someone who is better skilled. Don’t get me wrong, someone with great skills can be an amazing asset for your company, especially in the short-term. However, I really question whether an individual with great skills and not-so-good work ethic would be a positive long-term investment.

The individuals that are ready to hit the pavement and give it their all for you, are the ones you want in your corner. Skills can always be taught. Work ethic, on the other hand, is a trait people are born with. You either have it or you don’t. These days, finding people with amazing work ethic is seemingly harder and harder to come by (the reasons for that are probably meant for another post). Whereas, you can always find people with good skills.

The most optimal way to have the best of both, is to invest in the people with the work ethic, and continuously train them to be better skilled. You can’t train work ethic.

Therefore, from my perspective, work ethic trumps skills, any day of the week. Especially when your outlook is long.

Would love to get some discussion on this topic. Please share!