Talent Is Overrated

 

We seem to have a generation full of young adults who believe that to be successful one must have some kind of natural talent that allows them to have that extra edge compared to others. Well, congratulations...you may be the most capable, creative, knowledgeable & multi-tasking generation yet.  However, if it is just talent that got you anywhere what you really deserve is a a "Sh-t Medal.”  Unrefined raw materials (no matter how valuable) are simply wasted potential.  There’s no prize for talent, just results.  Even the most seemingly gifted folks methodically and painfully worked their way to success.

 

As an office full of leaders who are helping each other train and build crews while also working hard to make sales in the field we know that no matter what talent someone brings to our team we still have to refine and improve our skills as sales people and especially as leaders. While not all leaders will develop their talents and abilities to the same level, all successful leaders more or less begin with the same foundation. The difference possessed by all great leaders is that they continue to refine, develop and build from their foundation. They understand leadership is not a destination; it’s a continuum.  The best leaders combine attitude, effort and skill, but of the three, skill is the least important.  When in doubt, always choose attitude over aptitude. 

Leadership is a choice, and great leaders not only choose to lead – they choose to lead well. They not only continuously develop talent, but they also maintain a strong work ethic. Along with work ethic it is a leader's drive, discipline, dedication, determination, and desire that makes a bigger difference more than their potential. 

Below are six leadership characteristics (in no particular order of preference) that require absolutely no talent or ability, but that must be present in order to succeed over the long-haul as a leader.

1.     Show-up: You can’t make a difference if you don’t show-up. It requires zero talent to be present mentally and physically. In most sports I’m aware of you cannot play if you don’t suit-up and show-up. Leadership is a participation sport and never works well in absentia.

2.     Care: There is great truth in the old axiom “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Extending basic human courtesy requires no talent – just a willingness to behave in a decent manner. It’s highly probable you don’t like rude, elitist, arrogant, dismissive, or condescending people, so don’t become one yourself.

3.     Hustle: I learned this lesson at an early age… I had a basketball coach take me aside after I finished far ahead of the pack after a long set of down-and-backs. He pointed to a slower teammate who was still running his lines and said, “he may not be as fast, but he’s giving 100% – Did you?” He went on to say, ”it takes no talent to hustle and your team deserves better.” I don’t ever remember dogging-it again.

4.     Follow Through: It takes no ability to simply do what you say you’re going to do. Nothing is more important for a leader than keeping promises and commitments. A leader who fails to understand this will never create the trust bond necessary to lead effectively. It’s just not that hard to deliver on your promises, and if you have no intention of doing so, don’t make the commitment to begin with.

5.     Positive Attitude: To the one, the best leaders I’ve ever known all smile, listen, engage, have a positive outlook, and have a high energy level. This is a mindset thing, not a talent thing – it’s as simple as making the choice to be pleasant.

6.     Do the Right Thing: While it will often require courage, it takes no talent or ability to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Real leaders don’t compromise when it comes to core values – they have character. It takes no skill to tell the truth, and great leaders will always forgo doing things right where such actions conflict with doing the right thing.

 

There is no doubt that the list above could be expanded as there are large numbers of leadership characteristics that require no talent or ability –  just desire. Perhaps as a leader you find more characteristics to add to the list. Whatever they are, be sure they are characteristics that you have a strong ethic for and which you can continuously refine and improve upon.