How to Build a Team for Tomorrow (Not Just Today): Lessons from Netflix

The world changes fast. If your team is only built for today’s challenges, you’re already falling behind. Patty McCord’s 'Powerful' reveals how Netflix stays ahead by hiring for the future—not just the present.



Netflix uses the sports team metaphor: always looking for new talent, training stars, and making tough calls about who plays and who sits out. This approach means regularly assessing what skills and experience will be needed in six months or a year—and hiring accordingly.

Sometimes, that means letting go of good people whose skills no longer fit. It’s not about loyalty for its own sake, but about building the best possible team for the next season. Managers are responsible for maintaining high talent density, ensuring every role is filled by someone exceptional.

This future-oriented mindset frees managers to focus on growth and performance, not just keeping everyone happy. Employees, too, are encouraged to seek new challenges and take charge of their own development.

If you want your team to thrive in a changing world, start by asking: What will our customers need next? What new skills will we require? Then, build your team for the future—not just for now.

Great teams don’t happen by accident. They’re built with vision, courage, and a relentless focus on what’s next.