Talent Bar or Skills Gap, Which Is It?
Has the talent bar been set too high? Do you have the talent required to do the job, to fit in, or to become a success?
There is a belief, and likely strong evidence, to support the idea that sometimes people give up too soon.
Children in sports are often encouraged.
Nice arm!
That kid is so fast!
Great eye on that one!
Chances are slim for the millions of young people who engage in adolescent sports to become professionals. Even rarer is that if they turn pro, that they will become an all-star.
It is also true for academic studies. True for the assessment of math skills, reading, or comprehension. Yes, of course, some think and achieve differently, yet the bar for success in most job roles is much lower than the academic requirements.
Is the bar about talent or developed skill?
Talent Bar Surprise
In most workplace roles, the concept of talent is given too much emphasis. Just like the Netflix movie suggestion you received from your social media feed, it is overrated.
A focus on developing the appropriate skill is much more appropriate.
Something strange develops from work that you focus on every day. Showing up and doing your part always builds experience.
You may not always get the kudos you feel you deserve or the reaction to your work may receive harsh criticism. Yet with every teeny tiny success, you can raise the bar on your personal levels of competence.
Most work isn’t a one and done.
It’s not a talent bar or a skills gap.
It is a persistent focus on cranking out your best work, day-after-day across time.
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
