364. Your Dog Smells Things You Can't. So Does Your Team.

Dogs don't just have a better sense of smell than humans — they experience a completely different reality in the same space.
Leaders make the same mistake with people: they assume everyone experiences work the same way they do.
You unconsciously evaluate others using the only sensory system you have — your own — which means you favor people who think, solve problems, and communicate like you.
The people who make you uncomfortable or feel "off" often have the exact capabilities your team needs most.
What you call "strong culture" might actually be a system that rewards familiarity and filters out difference.

If something is easy for you, don't assume it's easy for others; if it's hard for you, don't assume it's hard for them.
The person you find hardest to understand isn't the problem — your limited measurement system is.
Pay attention to anyone on your team who makes you slightly uncomfortable because you don't fully understand what makes them good.
Before dismissing someone as "not a culture fit," ask: Are they failing, or are they just succeeding in a way I don't recognize?
The most valuable abilities on a team are usually the ones that operate outside your own perspective.

Think about your team: Who makes you slightly uncomfortable because you don't fully understand their strengths?
Who are you most drawn to? They probably think, solve problems, and communicate like you — which means you might be missing other talent.