Marcus Buckingham Alert: Hiring For Talent

Joanne sits back in her chair deep in thought. She is concerned about her daughter Maria who has become very withdrawn, agitated at times and losing interest in whatever she is doing. She has two daughters Ann and Maria who are identical twins. She thinks back on the training and the access to facilities that she has given both her daughters. They have always been given the same training no matter in sport or any other field. Yet, Ann has been a consistent performer and enjoys whatever she does. Maria on the other hand seems disinterested in any of the activities.

Maria has an innate talent to sing, to write poetry, to draw and she enjoys the few moments in her day when she does what pleases her inner soul. She has no interest in dance, swimming or learning the various languages. She forces herself to go to classes with her sister since her mom wants her to.

• How many of you have been in a similar position?
• Or as parents not recognized the innate talents of your children ?
• How many of us in our organizations have not been recognized for our strengths and our innate talents?
• How many of us have left our jobs because we feel under-utilized or because of our immediate managers?

Your talent is God’s gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God.
Leo Buscaglia

Talent is something we are all born with – it is something that drives us, it is the way we think, and it is how we build relationships.  Skills can be taught but not talent. If someone by nature is meticulous and detail oriented or empathetic, these aren’t something you can teach another or even if you do they may not necessarily excel at it. Experience, brain power, and will power are important but it is the talent that carves our recurring thoughts, feelings or behaviors and they explain the Why,Who and How of a person.

Each of us have filters that act as stimuli to our different actions and reactions. It is these filters and innate qualities that makes us unique. Though Mary and Ann are twins their innate talents and filters are different.  They went through the same training, yet Ann excelled whereas Mary switched off.

Imagine you were at a party and you decide to go to this party only because your best friend has convinced you to go with her. By nature you are uncomfortable being among people you don’t know. Now your friend dives into the crowd of strangers and strikes a conversation with complete strangers and possibly turning them into friends.  Each of our filters is constantly telling us the things we must do or think or feel.

• Question is How Much Of You Can Be Changed.
• Ask yourself, Will you transform yourself so much that you will become a smooth wooer like your friend?
• What can be changed is the skills we learn as we go along, our knowledge, our beliefs and values as we develop a greater sense of self-awareness.

Each of us have talents to be exceptional at something – innate qualities and strengths and the key is to find these.

• How many of us know our strengths?
• How many of us have been hired to a job that matched our talents?
• How many organizations can pride themselves in getting the right talent?
• How do we avoid stereotypes?
• How do you find out what you are good at and match this with what is available?

Strength based coaching is a step to bridge the gap. Within organizations a good manager or leader who has an open mind will start with knowing whom to select and match talent to the job in hand.  Once the right match happens, the manager guides and mentors his team members (check my Blog Post on What is Your Hat), provides regular constructive feedback and focuses on improvement to achieve the vision.

A Coach can help you as an individual or your organization to select for talent, define the right outcomes, focus on strengths, assist in the growth and provide the backdrop for finding the right fit.

How ? The Coach will assist you in gaining a clearer perspective on what you are doing, why you are doing and how to do it better?

More to follow…