Digging Into RecruitingBlogs.com v2.13 Talent Is The Problem - RecruitingBlogs2024-03-29T13:58:07Zhttps://recruitingblogs.com/forum/topics/digging-into-18?commentId=502551%3AComment%3A614472&feed=yes&xn_auth=noNobody in the game of footbal…tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-04-06:502551:Comment:6147562009-04-06T01:34:33.235ZJohn Sumserhttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/JohnSumser
Nobody in the game of football should be called a genius. A genius is somebody like Norman Einstein.<br />
- Joe Theismann
Nobody in the game of football should be called a genius. A genius is somebody like Norman Einstein.<br />
- Joe Theismann I've had arguments with my HR…tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-04-05:502551:Comment:6145902009-04-05T14:56:13.934ZDan Nuroohttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/DanNuroo
I've had arguments with my HR people about my inability to consistently hire A grade players. My response, how can anyone have teams and teams of those supposed A grade people? I don't want to... Cultural fits, with adequate skills, and an aptitude to learn, who will just get through all the work are also needed, if not more so than the others. Those high flying, high potential, golden people, won't want to do the boring mundane stuff, involved in every job. Yet it still needs to be done…
I've had arguments with my HR people about my inability to consistently hire A grade players. My response, how can anyone have teams and teams of those supposed A grade people? I don't want to... Cultural fits, with adequate skills, and an aptitude to learn, who will just get through all the work are also needed, if not more so than the others. Those high flying, high potential, golden people, won't want to do the boring mundane stuff, involved in every job. Yet it still needs to be done doesn't it? So agreed, TALENT = over rated Norm Augustine is famous for…tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-04-04:502551:Comment:6144722009-04-04T23:59:07.815ZJohn Sumserhttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/JohnSumser
Norm Augustine is famous for saying things like "If the Earth could be made to rotate twice as fast, managers would get twice as much done. If the Earth could be made to rotate twenty times as fast, everyone else would get twice as much done since all the managers would fly off." He'd think this whole conversation about 'Talent' was silly.<br />
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When we use doublespeak to talk about important things, the important things don't get done.
Norm Augustine is famous for saying things like "If the Earth could be made to rotate twice as fast, managers would get twice as much done. If the Earth could be made to rotate twenty times as fast, everyone else would get twice as much done since all the managers would fly off." He'd think this whole conversation about 'Talent' was silly.<br />
<br />
When we use doublespeak to talk about important things, the important things don't get done. You know, Sandra, that's exac…tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-04-03:502551:Comment:6139612009-04-03T19:00:43.993ZJohn Sumserhttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/JohnSumser
You know, Sandra, that's exactly why I think the term "Talent" is a carryover from the bubble economy. In the pursuit of fast money, we forgot the fundamentals. It's not just the housing market, the financial institutions and the unemployed, it's all of us.<br />
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We got caught believing that you could make the world different by changing its name. That money grew on trees and that everyone had talent. We were just channeling <a href="http://www.15minutesof.com/home.html">Andy Warhol's dream</a>. And…
You know, Sandra, that's exactly why I think the term "Talent" is a carryover from the bubble economy. In the pursuit of fast money, we forgot the fundamentals. It's not just the housing market, the financial institutions and the unemployed, it's all of us.<br />
<br />
We got caught believing that you could make the world different by changing its name. That money grew on trees and that everyone had talent. We were just channeling <a href="http://www.15minutesof.com/home.html">Andy Warhol's dream</a>. And now, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15_minutes_of_fame">15 minutes</a> are up.<br />
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Lots of things got hyperinflated and it's time to return to simpler views. If you haven't seen <a href="http://www.johnsumser.com/2009/03/just-work/">Just Work</a>, it bears a scan. We're returning to simpler, earlier values.<br />
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I'm particularly interested in the generational implications. From my perspective, Gen Y is clearly focused on making a contribution, not getting recognized. Somehow, the edge of HR evolved into a mindset of entitlement for a special few. Accountability, transparency and measurable ideas are making a comeback. John,
I think from an organi…tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-04-03:502551:Comment:6138462009-04-03T18:11:19.800ZPatrick Frosthttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/PatrickFrost
John,<br />
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I think from an organizational perspective, talent can be defined as “the ability to do really well what you ask the person to do.” My friend who runs a manufacturing facility is going to assess talent differently than I will while recruiting for the software company that employs me. Isn’t that what we are all trying to do in recruiting? Find someone who is really good at doing what we or our client is going to ask them to do?
John,<br />
<br />
I think from an organizational perspective, talent can be defined as “the ability to do really well what you ask the person to do.” My friend who runs a manufacturing facility is going to assess talent differently than I will while recruiting for the software company that employs me. Isn’t that what we are all trying to do in recruiting? Find someone who is really good at doing what we or our client is going to ask them to do? Sumser declares Jihad against…tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-04-03:502551:Comment:6136632009-04-03T16:25:48.157ZMartin H.Snyderhttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/MartinHSnyder
Sumser declares Jihad against the term "Talent". I like it. It is a demeaning term and is often used for just that purpose.<br />
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The new century has quickly worn off some of the awe reserved for the managing class. Hardly a worker's paradise in the making, but I'm glad to see the dignity of honest work coming back into style, no matter what kind of work it may be.
Sumser declares Jihad against the term "Talent". I like it. It is a demeaning term and is often used for just that purpose.<br />
<br />
The new century has quickly worn off some of the awe reserved for the managing class. Hardly a worker's paradise in the making, but I'm glad to see the dignity of honest work coming back into style, no matter what kind of work it may be. John, excellent post. The iss…tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-04-03:502551:Comment:6136492009-04-03T16:03:10.583ZJim Damicohttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/eebttf
John, excellent post. The issue manifests itself in so many vagaries: hire the best, A players, game changeres, etc. The powers that be that run with these mantras aren't clear on what defines the term, and be the time a recruiter gets ahold of it, it's even more oblique, like a phrase passed around in the telephone game. Sometimes the value we add as recruiters is helping to define the actual need and the right candidate based on that need. It's recruiter 101, but that's why it's a…
John, excellent post. The issue manifests itself in so many vagaries: hire the best, A players, game changeres, etc. The powers that be that run with these mantras aren't clear on what defines the term, and be the time a recruiter gets ahold of it, it's even more oblique, like a phrase passed around in the telephone game. Sometimes the value we add as recruiters is helping to define the actual need and the right candidate based on that need. It's recruiter 101, but that's why it's a fundamental.<br />
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Also, any plans to get back up to Minnesota? It's interesting to try to ha…tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-04-03:502551:Comment:6135632009-04-03T14:55:57.197ZJohn Sumserhttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/JohnSumser
It's interesting to try to have a conversation when the comments are in two different places.<br />
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Isn't it interesting that "Talent Acquisition" says nothing about the whole person. "We buy talent" has very serious overtones of a different form of employee ownership; the kind where employees are owned. Worse, the term suggests that the only employees worth owning are those with specialized roles and abnormal capabilities.<br />
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I am concerned that we are seriously marginalizing the people who either…
It's interesting to try to have a conversation when the comments are in two different places.<br />
<br />
Isn't it interesting that "Talent Acquisition" says nothing about the whole person. "We buy talent" has very serious overtones of a different form of employee ownership; the kind where employees are owned. Worse, the term suggests that the only employees worth owning are those with specialized roles and abnormal capabilities.<br />
<br />
I am concerned that we are seriously marginalizing the people who either don't have or don't think they have "talent".<br />
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Maureen's quote is dead on. We're dealing with the remnants of the bubble economy here. The idea that a group of people with high potential are entitled to be the sole object of our Recruiting Programs is crazy. 'A' players are not very useful unless they are surrounded by competent 'B' and 'C' players. I thought to myself as I read…tag:recruitingblogs.com,2009-04-03:502551:Comment:6134172009-04-03T12:06:23.694ZMaureen Sharibhttps://recruitingblogs.com/profile/MaureenSharib
I thought to myself as I read your great piece John that the same might be said about sourcing - everyone has a theory but nobody really seems to have a definition!<br />
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Other nomers for "talent" might include:<br />
Worker Bee<br />
Individual Contributor<br />
Indian (not Indian Chief)<br />
Grunt<br />
<br />
Whatever you want to call them, the word "work" oughtta' be inextricably entwined.<br />
<i>"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. "</i> ~ Thomas Edison
I thought to myself as I read your great piece John that the same might be said about sourcing - everyone has a theory but nobody really seems to have a definition!<br />
<br />
Other nomers for "talent" might include:<br />
Worker Bee<br />
Individual Contributor<br />
Indian (not Indian Chief)<br />
Grunt<br />
<br />
Whatever you want to call them, the word "work" oughtta' be inextricably entwined.<br />
<i>"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. "</i> ~ Thomas Edison