What is the main factor that determines the success of a small startup? It is the people you recruit to the organization. Although not a for-profit organization, starting a research group is like starting a small business. I need people to run projects and manage and maintain the lab. For a private company with big capital, it is easy to attract many bright talents for a position. However, that is not always the case for a small lab in academia. The main factors in attracting talent are the investigator's and institute's reputation and credibility. Which is lacking for many new recruits. One will be forced to make the best out of the situation. Oftentimes, one ends up with inexperienced staff members who also have to tolerate immature personalities. Asking people to leave will depend on the situation of the people, such as how dependent a person's career is on being in the lab.
It is ultimately a test of patience. How much can you tolerate an individual? There is always an option to end the relationship. But many times, you end up not doing that. I try to find something good in an individual and nurture their strengths to make progress in a project. For me, it has been an excellent opportunity to learn about personalities and learn from mistakes. And I can say that there will not be any dearth of mistakes. I have made many mistakes in recruitment, which often time happen knowingly. It is a learning process. I hope that things will turn out better this year.
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