A single word can portray different meanings when used in various contexts. Speaking of the word talent, it simply means the caliber individuals possess or their innate ability to perform any task. Talent is different from skill as it refers to the inherent capability of individuals whereas skills refer to everything acquired with hard work. When it comes to the workplace, the word changes its meaning and turns into something professional.
Without a doubt, identifying, selecting, and managing a pool of talent, is a crucial process in any workspace. It directly determines the prosperity of an organization. But, the real question is, what meaning does talent hold when it comes to a corporation, no matter how big or small.
The real meaning of talent in the workplace
As mentioned before, talent means something an individual is born with. For example, intelligence, soft skills, and an artistic vision, all come under talent. To finesse or acquire talent, one has to work really hard.
Although in the industry, both talent and skill are used as each other’s substitute, at the grassroots, they hold different meanings. The majority of the workspace requirements require skills, and they can be learned from scratch.
So, where does talent come into play? Learnable skills qualify an individual for a job role, while the talent they possess helps them stand out and get the job.
This is why identifying new talent is crucial in the workspace. However, the term talent isn’t singular when it comes to organizations looking for a whole team. Usually, the recruitment team or the HR manager deals with a pool of applicants; therefore, talent becomes plural when there is more than one applicant. Generally speaking, the word talent refers to above-average performance.
Is talent to be acquired or recruited?
In this ever-developing world, change is the only constant. This means different skills are needed in the market as things advance. For example, the rising demand for sustainability and the development of the automation industry has and will continually affect the corporate sector in the coming years. What does that mean? Thousands of opportunities will vanish in thin air and several others will rise in demand. In such cases, certain skills would become redundant, and talent will get the attention.
Why is talent crucial? Why should HR managers identify talent before skills?
Talent is inherent. It is not something that can be taken away from an individual or will get useless after a new demand arises. Skills are crucial too, but it is the talent that predicts how well an individual has absorbed certain skills.
The recruitment process and the hiring managers are more inclined toward finding talented individuals who can give their best performance and adapt to unforeseen changes with lesser efforts.
Conclusion
Having an efficient talent acquisition strategy can help any organization recruit the talent they are looking for. This, in turn, lays the foundation for a better company. HR managers who focus more on acquiring talent rather than just recruitment build a strong team that is not just talented but flexible too.
