Talent Isn’t Enough

Storytime! 📖

Once upon a time...I was leading a sizable team that excelled in their roles and consistently achieved their quarterly goals. Due to the cyclical nature of our work, middle management positions would frequently open up at least twice a year. Not everyone chose to apply; some were quite satisfied in their current roles. Others had different ambitions, but I recognized three to four individuals who were keen on advancing their careers within the company and would submit their applications every cycle. After each hiring season, when someone was chosen for the role, I made it a point to offer constructive feedback to the candidates who were not selected, helping them identify areas for performance improvement and the skills they needed to develop.

Every season, there was always one specific candidate who applied but did not receive the promotion. I provided feedback each time, yet there was little to no improvement throughout the cycles. Eventually, this person grew frustrated and decided to move on to another company. So, what were the issues? SOFT SKILLS. 🗒

While this individual was talented, creative, and hardworking, they struggled with professionalism. They engaged in gossip about colleagues, spread rumors, were unable to read social cues, and often lacked tact & maturity, requiring frequent conversations about inappropriate behavior and decorum. I offered specific examples and encouraged them to focus on their professionalism, but little changed.

For some time, I viewed it as a personal failure as their leader, but I eventually understood that I couldn't MAKE them more self-aware. The desire to mature and evolve had to come from within. 💫

The takeaway here is this: You might be EXCEPTIONAL at your work and the most gifted person in the room. However, without interpersonal skills, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence (ie. SOFT SKILLS) to navigate the workplace, you are operating at a deficit.