Talent Is

What is talent? A simple question to be sure, but answers to this question vary widely.

For many (old school) managers, talent still refers to fresh crops of MBAs graduating from top B-schools, you know, the same schools that make Business Week’s annual list every year.  But what, exactly, is it that makes these graduates talented?  

They are very clever at many things, these top B-school graduates.  They can manage large balance sheets with many moving parts, and they can synchronize operational details with great efficiency.  There can be no question that being able to do these things makes them very valuable to their respective employers.

But is it talent?

When I think of talent, I think of the ability to produce and generate new things and new forms of value.  I think creation, not efficiency.  So, what the traditionalist world of management is really saying when they say they are looking for talent or that they are battling in the ‘talent wars,’ what they are really doing is looking for people to manage efficiently.

According to Dictionary.com, talent is a special natural ability or aptitude.  For me the key words here are special and ability.  When I think of the word talent, I think art, architecture, design, building, etc.

What do you think of?

The Butcher