The Absolutely Lowest Co-Founder Behavior

While I told the story of the psychopath sales leader, the jailbird employee, and the questionable investor, I did not explain what makes the most dangerous co-founder.

Questionable

You will meet some questionable characters when recruiting for co-founders and early employees. Most of these will be people who need a job. However, a few personality types could destroy your company.

Characteristics

A good co-founder is talented, humble, and hungry to prove themselves. The danger comes with people who are less talented than they believe, have ego issues, and only care about themselves.

Trainable

The best co-founder knows their limitations and wants to improve. A dangerous one believes they do not have limitations and ignores most advice. Worse yet, they take offense at feedback and seek to sabotage others to make themselves look better.

Commitment

Excellent co-founders understand that they are committed regardless of circumstances. While some will leave for various reasons, the dangerous ones ignore their fiduciary responsibility over grievances with other founders, the board, or investors.

Responsibility

Good co-founders hold each other accountable and strive to improve the entire company. Dangerous ones wait for someone else to do something to improve the company. Otherwise, they hold back from doing their jobs. It is typical for dangerous co-founders to threaten when they do not get what they want.

Excellence

The best co-founders want excellence for themselves and the company. Bad ones may wish but do not understand how to accomplish that. Dangerous ones only care about stock options, pay, and position titles.

Conclusion

Having co-founders is like a marriage. Everyone must give and take for the relationship to work. That connection is critical to the company's success. Therefore, each co-founder must understand their commitment when joining the company.