Talent & Skill: understanding the difference

One of the most common "mistakes" that we make as managers, leaders, parents or mentors, is to confuse talent and skill. Understanding and recognizing the difference between these two important aspects are crucial when you want to assist or encourage a person to develop, grow and achieve.

Within our culture and our common language, we mistake skill as a talent. We would make observations like "That boy is extremely talented. He scored three goals in the game this morning." Or we would look at a performance within sport, art, of life overall and be amazed at the "talent" we observe, when it is actually skill... built mostly on talent.

My own, basic definition of talent is the following: talent is an inherent drive, energy or longing that fuels and energizes your body, mind or soul to achieve, excel, accomplish or master any specific skill or ability within an area of passion or interest that you identify with.

Then again, on the flip side, you get skill. That I will define as "a specific routine, practice or method that enables you to perform a task to a certain degree of excellence."

You might think that the difference does not matter much, but it matters more than we would know. The first and foremost problem is that confusing talent and skill leads to projection and judgementalism. Skill on its own is not such a good indicator of potential. Talent, on the other hand, is. When we look behind skill and identify talent, our judgement immediately reverts into celebration of potential.

Another important aspect is that distinguishing between talent and skill really helps to enhance fulfilment and avoid weakness fixing. Someone could be brilliant and perform exceptional within a given skill - mostly due to determination and hard work. But it might drain them emotionally, and they might even hate every moment of the activity. That then is a sign that they are not building on talent or strength, but on a weakness. When it weakens you, it’s a weakness.

When you manage, lead or mentor today, be alert to the difference between the skill you observe and the talent behind it (or the absence of talent behind it!). As a leader or mentor, always challenge and push people towards their natural talents, and give them the opportunity to add skill to that. They will excel, and love you for it.
Understanding the power of working, living and thinking from your natural strengths, is a lot more that simple theory. The real test for an individual, or an organization of any kind, functioning out of their strengths, will be found within their corporate language.

When you think "strengths", you speak "strengths". You will have certain ways that would just seem normal within your interaction and conversation with others. The first, and probably foremost, of these, will be that you will naturally seek to identify and celebrate someone’s uniqueness and natural talents.

Celebrating others is something that comes natural to the "strengths-based-mind". As soon as you see someone living out their strengths, you will want to applaud them. You become such an advocate for the idea that one size does NOT fit all, that you just love it to see and experience a perfect fit!

A "strengths-based-attitude" will also naturally encourage others to do better, and to do more of what they find energizing. Natural talent is a beautiful thing to see in action!

There are certain words or phrases that help a lot to encourage the "language of strengths" amongst individuals or teams. Here are a few, just as example:

"Where did that idea / action / deed originate?"
With this phrase we are serious about learning more about somebody’s talent themes, and how they function in practice.

"This is my [talent theme] working, but I was wondering how...."
Putting a specific reference to an action or idea, helps others to understand better where you are coming from, and how they can tap into your talent.

"I really need to give my [talent theme] some space here..."
This encourages others to give you the freedom to use your theme to the best effect.

"May I tap into your [talent theme] with this issue / problem?"
People love it when you see the value of what their themes could offer, and make use of it!

Many of you have done the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment, but don’t know that there is coaching and training available in South Africa. To book your personal Talent Guide, call (012)345-6833 or go to www.africanmosaic.com.