A few years ago, I came across an idea that stuck: when hiring, company DNA is more important than experience. Sounds bold, but bear with me.

Sure, someone might look perfect on paper – top grades, impressive companies on their CV, stellar sales figures. But if their natural style, instincts, and values don’t align with what your company stands for, they’re unlikely to succeed in the long term. Skills and experience can be taught; DNA can’t.

Jeff Hyman, who teaches the US’s only MBA course on executive recruiting, sums it up neatly: your DNA is the three to five core traits that define your company’s essence, culture, and way of working. It’s what makes your organisation tick, and it’s what separates leaders who thrive from those who struggle.

Not sure what yours is? Here’s a simple approach to find out:

1. Pick your superstars – identify three or four employees you’d be truly devastated to lose.

2. Find their common traits – are they fearless, driven, brilliant problem-solvers, great collaborators?

3. Distil your DNA – these shared qualities now define the heart of your company.

4. Live it every day – hire, reward, and develop around these traits. Use them as a lens for promotion decisions, team-building, and even day-to-day recognition.

Once you know your company DNA and commit to it, hiring decisions become far simpler. You start attracting candidates who naturally fit, reducing turnover and creating stronger, more cohesive teams. Over time, the right culture begins to thrive almost automatically, because every new hire, every promotion, and every leadership decision reinforces the traits that make your organisation unique.

The takeaway is simple: skills can get you in the door, but company DNA keeps you winning. Focus on it, and you’ll build teams that aren’t just capable – they’re unstoppable.