What do you believe is the difference between talent management and managing the talented?

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 17:16:35 -0400

Huge buzz word now in our Army and the DoD. I hear “talent management” multiple times a day. But recently I read an article that challenged that phrase, this leader challenged his audience not to conduct talents management but to focus on managing the talented. What are your thoughts?

Response by SFC Stephen King made Jul 5 at 2018 5:19 PM

SFC Stephen King — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 17:19:09 -0400

Leadership, is a balance one must take time to evaluate others without bais and determine individual strengths. Character strengths are key. Talent or talented individuals require guidance to ensure they grow.

Response by SPC David S. made Jul 5 at 2018 5:34 PM

SPC David S. — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 17:34:36 -0400

For me talent management is a bit misleading as its really about filling current and future slots with whats available. Managing the talented is about mentoring and maxing the potential of individuals - these individuals can then be returned to talent management for proper placement.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2018 6:40 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 18:40:42 -0400

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member Sir, I worked on the same program for 33 years. Over that period, we had many programs come and go with limited success. As with many organizations, our employees with "High Potential" were mentored by a higher ranking manager. As a manager, you should focus on all employees in your charge, to make sure that they all succeed. You will not be successful with everyone, but you owe it to all your employees to provide them with the tools to excel.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2018 2:01 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Jul 2018 02:01:54 -0400

A very broad question, for sure. But there a few key points to note.

Talent management in its largest sense can be viewed as simply how you mold your staff. Hiring policies, training policies, uniform policies, etc. Every job has talent management, as in this sense, ‘talent’ really means ‘labor pool’.

managing the talented, is far more difficult. The ability to even recognize what true talent is, and then foster and cultivate that talent, is a unique talent in and of itself. Ask most parents, and most children are so talented and special. Ask someone who the smartest kid in school is, and they’ll say “well, the valedictorian”.

But the ability to recognize that not everyone is talented and that the kid with straight As isn’t always the smartest is vital. Further, knowing how to separately manage individual talents is a whole other game than simple ‘talent management’.

A genuinely interesting question that could take pages to answer properly.