Relationship between Motivation and Talent

Hydrogen and oxygen are distinctly different elements, but sometimes they combine to form water. Something similar is true for motivation and talent.

Motivation is what we LIKE to do naturally.  Talent is what we DO well naturally.  They can exist independently, but when they combine, they create something special.  They create
motivated talents.

People often are naturally good at something (talented), but it just doesn’t turn them on.  For example, Hema is good with numbers, but she doesn’t go out of her way to find tasks calling
for that talent.  Most people have such talents.  But then there are those talents that we really enjoy using.  These are the motivated talents, and this is where the magic is.

We use motivated talents every chance we get.  Most of the time we don’t even think about it.  For example, Harish has a motivated talent for conversation, and he naturally engages both friends and
strangers in dialog.  He doesn’t consciously determine to do so; it just happens.  It’s natural and unforced.  He enjoys it, and he’s good at it.  That’s the hallmark of a motivated talent.

Motivated talents tend to be irrepressible.  They find expression. In fact, if you’ve ever tried to stifle a motivated talent (either yours or someone else’s) it probably felt like you were trying
to hold two dozen ping pong balls under water at the same time. Motivated talents pop out, even if no one else is asking for them. And doesn’t that make sense?  After all, it’s what we do well AND enjoy.

Well then, wouldn’t the ideal job be one where you can use your motivated talents daily and get paid for it?  Absolutely!  But more on that later.

Sd/-

Roohul Haq

Who is a Leader ?

Want to have some fun?  

Go to the book section of Amazon.com, enter the keyword "leadership" and see how many hits you get.

The last time I did this I got over 18,200 hits. Eighteen thousand two hundred! Why is there so much material on this one subject?
The law of supply and demand would say it is because people are buying it. But I suspect there are other, more subtle reasons.
One of those reasons is the underlying belief that leadership can be taught. With enough training, anybody can be a leader. The theory
is that leaders are made, not born. Or are they?

The other day a woman told me that she sees definite leadership traits in her son. I asked her how old he was. "Six," she replied. Too
young to have been through any leadership training. So are leaders born or made? The answer is both.

The problem is that we often get fuzzy about what can and cannot be taught, and at the heart of the fuzziness is the difference between
talent and skill.

Talent is what we do well naturally. It is our bent. Talents are inborn, and can be discovered and developed. They cannot be taught.

However, skills can. Skills are simply how to do something. They are learned and transferable. When we confuse talent and skill, we set ourselves
up for disappointing expectations from training.

What does this have to do with developing leaders? Everything. For example, the ability to create vision and strategy is a key leadership
trait. Some people have a talent for it. They do it naturally and continually. Others don’t. Both can learn some skills that will help them do it better.

The difference is that the one with the corresponding talent can be excellent at it, while the other one can be adequate at best. Talent is required for excellence.

Who wants more "adequate" leaders?

Here’s the bottom line for developing your leadership potential: become the leader you are designed to be. Discover your natural
motivational talents, and build on them. Volunteer for assignments and training that complement your natural giftedness. Get on the
track to excellence by aligning your development with your talents.

There are all types of leaders. Some rouse and inspire. Some organize.  Some are strategic, and some tactical. Some spot opportunities, and
some protect against disaster. All are needed in this world of ours.

What’s the best type of leader to be? The type you were designed to be.

Sd/-
Roohul Haq

Pedh --Poetry

  An amalgamation of thoughts from my HRLW experience on April 30. GSS HR team inspired me to plough these on the field.

मेरा घर का आँघण कितना फैला और बडा था
जिसमे मेरे सारे खेल सम्मा जाते थे
और घर के सामने था वो पेड़
कि  जो मुझसे काफी ऊंचा था

लेकिन मुझको इसका यकीन था
जब मैं बड़ा हो जाऊंगा ,इस पेड़ की ऊंचाइयों को छू जाऊंगा
इतने बरसों में
हर गली में खेला हूँ
दुनिया घूम आया हूँ
ज़िन्दगी के तपिश में कहीं ग़ुम हो गया हूँ

बरसों बाद लौटा हूँ , अपने घर के दवार पर
आँघण कुछ छोटा हो गया है
पेड़ मगर पहले से भी कुछ ऊँचा हैं