We all talk so much in businesses about the importance of retaining and nurturing talent and whilst I don’t disagree, I have long been a believer that if we put as much focus into helping the majority of our people be the best they can be then we would see a much larger return on our investment and increase in performance levels overall.
I listened to a podcast this week that talked about the idea that “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard” and it really got me thinking. Where should we be putting our focus to get the best from ourselves and our teams? While the ‘war on talent’ is rife, the pursuit of highly engaged and high performing teams is often top of CEO’s and People Director’s wish lists, so what’s the secret to getting there?
Hard work is without a doubt a key ingredient for success. The dedication and willingness to go the extra mile is irreplaceable and the discretionary effort is what most businesses stive to achieve with their teams. There is no doubt that those people that work hard can develop skills they wouldn’t have otherwise developed, and by putting themselves in the position to maximise their experiences they will be more likely to unlock their full potential.
Talent, on the other hand, refers to natural aptitude or skill in a particular area. It gives people a head start, allowing them to stand out. However, talent alone is rarely enough to achieve long-term success. We’ve all seen talented individuals at work who have become disengaged or demotivated and without the desire to work hard, talented individuals can often fail to deliver on their potential making it easier for them to be outperformed by those who are working steadily beside them.
Is it really possible to consider both hard work and talent as independent qualities? Would I really be able to give Adele a run for her money with my vocals if I worked hard enough? I think not. But then would Usain Bolt really be the world champion he is if he spent his days watching daytime tv? Doubtful. For true success those with talent surely must rely on hard work to enhance and sustain their talent. If they don’t then surely the hard workers could easily catch them in the race?
Perhaps it’s the third, magic ingredient that really makes the different, regardless of talent and hard work, we all have a mindset, conscious or not. Those with a growth mindset are more likely to embrace a challenge, overcome barriers and setbacks and look to continuously develop their skills. Could mindset be what allows those that just ‘work hard’ to overcome any perceived limitations that others may see imposed on them because of a natural lack of talent?
So, if we focus on mindset, that surely takes us back to the holy grail of engagement. A place where people are committed, motivated and driven to develop themselves and perform at their best in their roles. In this context it’s probably fair to conclude that the quote “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard” is thought provoking but over simplistic. While hard work is essential to unlock potential, talent provides an undeniable head start. However, success has to be a result of how talent, hard work and mindset interact. For organisations to really support their people in the drive for engaged, and high performing teams, it is essential to embrace talent in all forms, recognise hard work and help develop growth mindsets to be able to unlock the true potential of our teams and achieve long term success.