In the book Strengths Finder by Tom Rath (2007) and his colleagues at the Gallup

Question

In the book Strengths Finder by Tom Rath (2007) and his colleagues at the Gallup organization share a number of interesting perspectives on talents and weaknesses. In particular, they argue that the long-held belief that "you can do anything you set your mind to" is not only misleading, but can be detrimental to employee motivation.

Do you agree or disagree with their argument? Explain. In answering, also consider: the difference between talents and skills research demonstrating the importance of person-job fit theories/concepts. **Must also reference the book Strengths Finder 2.0 by tom Rath (2007)

Explanation / Answer

I completely agree with the approach and the argument followed, In the book Strengths Finder by Tom Rath (2007) and his colleagues at the Gallup organization which shares a number of interesting perspectives on talents and weaknesses. In particular, they argue that the long-held belief that "you can do anything you set your mind to" is not only misleading, but can be detrimental to employee motivation.

Here, it is not neccessary that anyone is able to do a CEO's tasks, it is the time which makes him ready to do that task and if somebody focuses on doing that, he may lose on what he is currently doing.

This also explained better, if you consider the following which demonstrates the difference between talents and skills:-

“Talent” and “skill” are often used interchangeably in conversations and perceptions. Both words pertain to the ability or potential of an individual to deal, work, and perform a particular task. However, their main difference is their point of origin.

A talent is defined by resources as the ability by a person that is inherent, inborn, or naturally occurring. A talent is said to be a special ability to do something without prior experience, study, or tutelage. It is often classified or compared to an instinct or a certain flair for doing something without extra effort and almost perfect in execution.

Since a talent is innate, only some people have actually acquired it. A talent makes it somewhat restricting–some people have it and others do not. Because it occurs naturally, a talent is also seen as raw ability which can be developed and improved over time with direction like instruction and training. Consistent improvement of any ability or craft gives an advantage for any individual.

This is also true for a skill. Unlike a talent, a skill is an ability that is learned and practiced for a period of time. A skill is an acquired or obtained ability which is often the result of constant performance and improvement on a particular task or behavior.

Skills are often taught and considered as a demonstrated talent. It is the “nurture” aspect which is the opposite of a talent being the “nature” or natural acquisition of ability. In this viewpoint, it can be said that a skill can be a result or an extension of a person’s particular talent and considerable effort. This means that a talent can be a stepping stone to improve a skill. A skill can be a refined ability when combined with talent.

Using both a skill and a talent can drive an individual to success and fulfill a goal in life. It is not a substitute for talent, nor is a talent a substitute for skill. A skill, as something acquired, needs instruction, time, training, and practice to actually learn. The training involved in doing a skill can also result in good values like hard work, perseverance, dedication, excellence, and other positive attributes to a person.

Another difference between a skill from a talent is that everybody has a chance, potential, and capacity to learn and earn a particular skill.

Summary:

1.A talent is an innate ability to do something. It also involves potential for further development and improvement. A skill, on the other hand, is a learned ability and a result of study, effort, training even before development or improvement.
2.Talents and skills are not substitutes for each other though they are used interchangeably. In many cases, a talent can be developed into a skill, as a refined form or as a demonstrated talent. This instance makes a talent as a platform to acquire or develop a skill easier.
3.In terms of acquisition, a talent is the natural aspect that needs little or no knowledge or effort while a skill is the nurturing aspect where there is a lot of time and effort spent to learn and execute a certain ability.
4.A talent occurs only in a limited number of people, and not everybody has access to it. Meanwhile, skills can be learned by anyone who has the capacity, potential, and willingness to learn.
5.A great advantage for learning a skill is that there are some additional values that can be learned in the midst of the learning process. Positive attributes regarding work and training can also help develop a person. Though talents can also offer the similar values in the duration of improvement, skills often require a more profound and much deeper embodiment and application of these values and attributes.
6.Both abilities are instrumental in the performance and accomplishment of a task or a dream.

“Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

There is a big difference between talent and skill. Anyone can develop a skill, but not everyone is blessed with talent. Often we confuse the two.

Talent is a gift. It’s a natural ability to do something that most others are unable to accomplish. We are blessed with talent. Someone who has talent has the ability to exercise it to enhance their work. Talent can take you places – sometimes scary places. In fact, talent can take us to places our character may not be ready to experience. Talent is a wonderful thing when it’s used properly, not abused, and maximized by the person who is lucky enough to own this special gift. Skill, however, is a learned ability. It can be improved with practice, work, and effort.

Skill comes from our knowledge and effort. It’s something attainable for anyone committed enough to put in the time and the reps to get better.

We are not all blessed with the same talents. In fact, some of us are forced to rely on our skill and hustle to get us through because we do not have as much talent as the next guy. I have been blessed to work with some amazingly talented people over the course of my life. All too often, really talented people drift off, losing sight of their goals and solely relying on the talents they have. They stop preparing as much and don’t do the work that others – who are not blessed with the same talents – have to do in order to succeed, simply because they know that their talent can cover their sins.

But, what if we committed to being a creative community that refused to take our talents for granted and were committed to refining them everyday? What if we committed to treating our talents like gifts and put in the extra work to increase our knowledge and develop these gifts? What if we committed to continuously develop and refine our gifts so that we could not only be talented, but also skilled.

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