Startups Grow With People: How to Pick Partners, Recruit the Top Talent and Build a Company Culture

by Ozan Dagdeviren

Startups can only grow with the right people decisions. This is a playbook for managing the most complex variable in a startup's success. Startups Grow With People makes good use of metaphors and real life examples for clarity. You will find lists, action plans and frameworks you can immediately start using in your own startup. Part How to Pick Partners will discuss when it is best to go at it solo and when it is best to partner-up; how to choose a co-founder; which indicators and warning signs to look for before making the handshake. Part How to Recruit the Top Talent will tell about the most important principles of making the very first hires of the company. You will learn about all the stages of top level hiring, from the interview to drafting up an offer that will get a "yes". Part How to Build a Culture is based on the appreciation that as a company grows, culture becomes the main map of reference people use for their actions and decisions. Here, you will learn about the Universal Cultural Codes Startups Need, Actions-Rituals-Symbols-Stories, how to use them. You'll also get a Culture Shaping Toolbox! *** The Author, Ozan Dagdeviren has studied sociology, psychology and marketing communications followed by holding people-related roles in large organizations. He's an entrepreneur and the founder of CommonWisdom.co.uk based in London. CommonWisdom helps growing startups with their people decisions & strategies. For early level startups, it provides go-to-market and customer acquisition strategies as well as mentoring to help them scale.

164 pages, Paperback

Published May 20, 2018

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Startups Grow With People: How to Pick Partners, Recruit the Top Talent & Build a Company Culture by Ozan Dagdeviren helps the reader solve problems through unique use of new technologies, when starting up a new business. Ozan speaks of the top three factors that need to be factored in to starting up a business such as Recruitment, Culture and Partnering.

The author has split the book into 3 parts. Part one: How to pick partners, part two: How to recruit and part three: How to build a culture. Part one talks about how the business owner knows whether they should either go solo or perhaps a business partner, the warning signs when the signs are right. Part two, speaks out about the key factors to keep in mind and look out for when the business owner begins the recruitment process. The final part talks about how culture diversity will grow with the recruitment and company growth.

I found this extremely interesting to read the authors point of view. Recommend to any new business owner or someone that wants to freshen up their current business.

[Pegboard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ozan Dagdeviren tells how history is full of improvements in a technology that dictates our current livelihood, which requires startup businesses to bring us to the next level of development. Startups Grow with People is not one of those books that are old news before they even publish it because working with people is an everyday experience in business. This business book breaks down expectations for an entrepreneur, it will not tell you how to handle everyday personal. This lets you know what is expected of you, and what you should expect from others as you build your company.

What I loved about Startups Grow with People is the transparency of Ozan Dagdeviren. He shows the pros and cons of different steps you can take in your business. Ozan explains choices you have, some you haven’t even thought of before reading this book. He helps you make wise decisions before linking yourself up with a person, co-founder, or another business.

[Bernetta Frazier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Startups Grow with People is a wonderful informational book written by Ozan Dagdeviren. Dagdeviren’s sole purpose in writing this book was in hope of educating new business owners about the characteristics of a successful startup. I have read many, many books, but this one is so well structured. I love the way everything is broken down to make it easy for you to understand with real-life scenarios, examples, and charts.

The passion that this author has for entrepreneurship is truly amazing that you can feel his energy throughout the book. The souls of the business revolve around people and the author does a great job pointing out the value people bring both collectively and individually. Humans are the brains of startup, but businesses have to conform to the speed of change, technology advances, and innovation. Businesses rise and fall if they cannot keep up with technology.

The author explains everything there is to know about the importance of partnering, recruitment, and culture building. To see growth, you have to choose the right partners and investors. Grasp the understanding and importance of first hires of the company. Believe it or not but people can make or tear down your company so you have to be cautious when making your selection. This book tells you what qualities to look for in a new hire, give interview recruitment principles, great advice and more as you continue to read.

A good partner doubles the knowledge, share the problems, responsibilities, workload and the benefits. By collaborating, partners can get things done efficiently, bring value to the table and give better odds of success. There’s a total benefit analysis chart which is a great touch for figuring out your company culture and more.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because it is an excellent read. The author was very informative and very detailed for all readers to understand the steps to have a successful startup. Dagdeviren mentioned that fear and comfort can’t coexist, so I guess he’s saying you either get out there and win or this whole thing just becomes a learning experience. I definitely recommend having a copy of this book to all entrepreneur-minded individuals. Let’s win everyone!

[Mar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ozan Dagdeviren is a recognized author with hands-on experience on the field of startups and HR and Culture. His experience really is on display throughout this book, as he guides us through the challenges of a growing startup and matching the right people with the company’s mission, values, and goals.
The book is nicely structured, with a clear language and easy to look for the information you are looking for. Even if you don’t work in a startup, but are somehow involved with recruitment, partnerships or the company’s culture, there is something here that can be valuable for you.
There is a good use of real-life examples and there are action plans and frameworks that will help to clarify any doubt you may have and show how to adjust these broad ideas to your specific situation. A nice and valuable book for anyone interested in the topic.

[Christine Lough · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just started a new company that has grown pretty quickly. I am trying to cut costs, so I have decided to do a lot of things myself instead of outsourcing. But one of the things I was desperately in need of was a few employees, I have never hired anyone before and didn’t know where to start. I made some enquiries online and was eventually led to this book, I read through it all even though some parts to do apply to me at this stage. The section on recruitment was very detailed but to the point. No jargon that wasn’t explained and if you are a beginner like me, you will find it easy to read. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I followed the instructions set out in the book and so far, I have made my first hire. I am really impressed with my new employee, I need to recruit two more people, so fingers crossed. But I highly recommend this book if you are new to starting a business.

[Rachel Kester · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book by author Ozan Dagdeviren looks into how you can make your own startups and some important tips you can keep in mind when doing so. Dagdeviren breaks up the book into three different parts to help you stay better focused on the topics presented. While reading, you’ll discover how you can find the best people to help you with boosting your startup, how you can find and recruit the top talent for your business, and how to create a company atmosphere that will help to make your startup a popular and growing one.

Besides listing helpful information, you’ll also find plenty of visual graphs and lists which can help you to better see the importance of certain facts. This way, you won’t have to worry about skimming over any vital information. If you’re in the business world or are interested in creating your own company or brand definitely check out this book.

[Sanjin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Startups are the thing of present and of future, that is for sure, there is no escaping it so it is best to learn about them while we can. This is a great guide for those who would like to start a startup, who would like to grow it and take it to next level. The author is skillful at presenting his ideas in a simple manner, you don’t have to be some special business expert to get what he is saying in this book. The book itself is not long, but it contains more than enough information, advice and helpful steps that you can take with your business. I would say that this is a starting book for starting startups – I know, I am hilarious and so smart! Joking aside, get this book if you have any interest in this topic, it is really good.

[Charlie Latham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, what can I say, starting a startup is always going to be a daunting as hell experience and nothing can stop that completely. This book definitely helped me wrap my head around a few things though.

Before I had next to no idea how to recruit people or the most productive ways to conduct an interview. Now I feel like I have quite a good grasp on the subject and am feeling much more comfortable and confident in starting off this process.

Overall, I found this to be helpful, eye-opening and really easy to read too.

[Archie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative!
An Informative book for startups. A guide for anyone looking to startup a new company. The book focusses on three key main areas that are considered as foundational elements: partners, people and culture. It provides tips, techniques with real life examples to help get ideas. This is a good book to read and keep for anyone, for knowledge, implement ideas and possibly attain success.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starting a business is never an easy task, and when talking to friends and family about it, you are often just as confused as before if not more so. Taking a read if this book will not only help you in growing your business but it will also provide you with the mental clarity to think. The author Ozan Dagdeviren has rammed this book full of value and broken everything down into bite-sized chunks.

[Cetin Karakaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a clear and practical book on why people's decisions matter most in start-ups. I read it when it first came out and still find myself going back to my notes. The advice on partners, team building and company culture is both realistic and inspiring—a recommended read for founders at any stage.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Loved what makes a great recruiter something I always aim to teach my clients who are new to interviewing. Packed full of info have taken many notes and having listened on audio I need to buy the book as a ref point and also his other books

[Elmer Diaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

it’s all about people

Lots of great tips and super valuable information. In this book the author discusses the importance of people and culture for the success of any sat Artur.