THE MYTH OF PERFECT TALENT
Javier García Iza
CEO
IOS OFFICES
When hiring people, we are constantly made to believe that the best option to fill a spot is by looking for the perfect person; someone who has a specific degree, the desired level of experience, who is always on time, well organized, and who has thousands of other characteristics specific for the job. But let’s be honest, what we might be presented as being the perfect choice, or the obvious choice, might not result, in fact, in the best choice. And this is simply because perfect people do not exist.
It is very common to see companies that attribute their failure or success to their capacity to attract and retain the best human resources. They are constantly “fighting” or competing to hire the best candidate, but such talents dry out, and more so, if they are all persistent in selecting the same prospects. The truth is, there will never be enough “perfect” choices for everyone.
Christine Comaford, in her book “Smart Tribes, explains that there is no such thing as “the best candidate” or “perfect talent.” We all have flaws and areas of opportunity, and ideally, we should work with what we have, making sure that our associates develop to the fullest of their own capacities.
The portability of talent is also a myth. Boris Groysberg, in his book Chasing Stars, states that, “Portability of star-quality performance is more often a myth than a reality, it is crucial for knowledge-based firms to figure out how to cultivate and retain their own stars.”
A person who exceeds in a particular field will not always shine in a different place. Considering this, I believe we should be aware that there are particular environments where some people can be more comfortable, where they can naturally shine. For me, it’s just a question of finding the right place for the right person.
Something to keep in mind is that in order to achieve this, we should try to present the optimal conditions where abilities and long-lasting relationships with the company can be developed. Generally, associates are seeking an environment with positive interactions with the right people in order to increase their potential and grow their capacities. As people, we are all looking for the right place to plant our seeds and grow, and if a company is able to present this opportunity, most of us will take it.
In this sense, we should refer to what is so-called a good working environment, but it is very important to point out that a “good environment” doesn’t always mean “good environment to work.” These two concepts are particularly different. For example, when we go to a restaurant, a coffee shop or a sporting event, there might be a “good” or even “great environment,” but that doesn’t mean that it’s a good place to maximize productivity and develop particular talents and abilities.
Working environments should be focused on offering opportunities for learning and improving abilities that can lead people on the path of their personal accomplishment, as well as the success of the organization.
In addition to this, we must not forget to consider that leadership in an organization is key. Even though talent and preparation depend on each individual, achieving and maximizing their potential will also depend on the leadership and the working environment of the company.
Where am I trying to go with these observations? Basically, I want to point out that we should be aware that good working environments are crucial, as they maximize the potential and abilities of our associates, while a negative environment will diminish the company’s performance.
Now a days, and more than ever, our working place has become an extremely relevant space for the enhancement of a high performing team. Currently, most jobs can be done remotely; however, office working space should be particularly considered when we are trying to build and conform a high performing team.
Another aspect that is important to consider in order to maximize the potential of each individual in our organization is to consider their cultural fit as well as their productivity. Once we identify these, we can focus on the escalation of the collective potential of our teams. When created and directed, we can picture it as an unstoppable high-speed train that can lead our companies to have the talent not of a particular individual, but a talent that can and should reflect the sum of abilities and drive of all of its associates .
I must say that as an organization committed to our associates and having a good working environment, we have witnessed many success stories, which reflect that the gained experience in our company has proven to allow associates to scale up to better positions and to the maximization of their abilities and talents. In our company, we are there for them, the same way they are there for us.
At IOS OFFICES, we are passionate and focused on creating the best working environment for our associates, so that they can feel comfortable in the spaces where they develop their work and leisure throughout the day. Our offices have multiple areas, such as terraces, coworking spaces, big offices and even individual offices that are built and designed to satisfy the needs and tastes of our associates, always leaving the door open for them to choose the best space for their activities.
Mexico Business News offers access to the most relevant information about different industries, including articles of important business leaders, amongst them, our CEO Javier García Iza, who shares his latest publication about how companies attribute failure or success to their capacity to attract and retain the best human talent.