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| Unconventional definition of talent by a great man ! |
Talent is an ancient word that used to be a unit of weight or money in the Greek Antiquity - It represented about 26 kg of silver, i.e. almost € 13.000...
Today the world talent refers to a particular skill or competence that an individual possesses and uses in his life to accomplish things. It is quite linked to the parable of talents in the Bible, which explains that men have received talents (gifts) from God and therefore they must use them carefully and respectfully.
In the business world, one uses the word "talent" in the sense of "superior skill", which gives an edge, or some visible leadership amongst other people around — peers, direct reports, managers, clients, suppliers, shareholders etc.
In the modern corporate world, "talent" has often replaced the word "human resources", to show that the people of the company are really the unique asset, and thus the Chief HR Officer can call himself Chief Talent Officer... Sounds much better doesn't it... a bit arrogant sometimes.
Everyone can see now that all HR directors, departments, coaches, consultants are permanently seeking innovative ways to identify, recruit, retain, develop and enhance talent ! And they talk a lot about it.
Personally, I am convinced that skills and competencies can really be developed and improved. Leadership can also be enhanced and improved through good coaching (not training, I insist).
However, I do not believe that talent can be manufactured, developed or increased, especially in the business world. I fundamentally think that talent is a gift, an inner differentiating factor that you inherit with your DNA, your senses, your brain, your IQ and our EQ, and partly from your childhood education.
Like David Ogilvy said, talent is most likely to be found among nonconformists, dissenters and rebels. This is why traditional HR approach and corporations face difficulties to breed talent. Very often, too often, the precious talents are discouraged because they can not really express their difference ; because they are not the same as all other "clone" managers ; because they behave and think in a lateral way ; because they are "out of the box".
Sadly, corporations often let go their true talents, and then try to create - with heavy HR processes - their own "talents", which are merely clones with better performance appraisals, so called "High Potentials".
True talent is rare. I met one this week, Cédric Villani, who received the Fields Medal of Mathematics in 2010 (the equivalent of a Nobel Prize), aged 37 only, for his work in kinetic research and optimal transportation. This gentleman perfectly describes Ogilvy's definition, and comforts my belief that talent cannot be "made". Cédric Villani is definitely nonconformist, and he is pure talent — as well as very empathetic and a pleasure to work with I must say !
So now, think about it... You have some talent, definitely — as everyone has got such a gift. But what is it ? What is your talent ? Are you really using it at work, in your life ? If not... well, let's be a rebel or a dissenter then, and find a spot where all your talent will be revealed and appreciated !
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| Cédric Villani, pure talent, nonconformist, Fields Medal 2010 |
