Every individual, and therefore every organization has various talents within it. It is in your best interest, as the leader/manager, to recognize, encourage, and utilize such talent. It’s no secret that properly matching people (and their talents) to specific projects, tasks, or positions within the company is a smart and beneficial way to manage. Although job histories and resumes can paint a picture of skills and talents, that picture is incomplete. Therefore, getting to know your employees can prove quite valuable. The better you know someone, the more likely you are to identify his/her skills and talents.
Think about what your employees are passionate about, what they’re good at, and what interests them. Knowing such things can help you to maximize the talent already present within the company. It may help you to make better matches between people and tasks, bringing with it happier, more satisfied employees, and better work results.
Clearly, getting to know your employees is a good way to understand the talent that’s available to you as a leader/manager. Although it may only take a few minutes and a casual conversation to gather the desired information, that task may seem much more difficult if you manage a large number of employees. Simplify things by targeting key people such at team leaders. Connect with them to better understand not only their talents, but also the talents of other employees around them.
Keep in mind that these conversations don’t have to be elaborate or happen all in one day. In fact, it’s better that you regularly take a few minutes to chat with different people. This is a good way to stay connected without compromising your busy schedule. The bottom line is that you have to pay attention and keep your eyes and ears open to identify talent. The better you understand what’s available to you, the better your chances of maximizing how you utilize your employees’ skills and talents. That alone can help you to become a more successful leader/manager.
