This article from Proactive Coaching, written by Tim Driver of Proactive Coaching LLC, examines how our culture handles talent. It identifies two cultural pitfalls — equating talent with accomplishment and overlooking true talent — and encourages coaches and mentors to separate talent from accomplishment, match talent with tasks, and seek out hidden or undeveloped talent on their teams. It is from the Proactive Coaching Odds and Ends collection.
Introduction
Tim Driver was a former student and athlete. He joined our speaking team several years ago. Tim passed away at age 45 last fall. At the time of his death he was a principal of an online school and a high school coach. Tim had the gift of vision and clarity. He also had a huge heart for at-risk kids. We miss him everyday.
Bruce
Two Cultural Pitfalls Regarding Talent
Our culture has two potential pitfalls where talent is concerned.
- There is a tendency to equate talent with accomplishment. If someone shows "potential" and has enough hype through the media, business or political channels, they are treated as though they have "arrived" or truly accomplished something.