TALENT APTITUDE & SUCCESS FACTORS – PART II

Take for instances, a guy witnesses a bad car accident.  During the initial emergency, paramedics and police rush to stabilize the driver and passengers.  Seamlessly using aptitude, he observes and evaluates the scene, and aptly determines to wait until the situation stabilizes before offering his statement.  Through observation, he knows that rushing in during an emotional scene could risk lives.  Another, with a lower aptitude, might not have waited.  This isn’t about proper judgement.  This is about the ability to witness or perceive (take in) which then drives an evaluate of action.

Have you ever met someone possessed with the ability to conjure up the most amazing and creative ideas but lacked any discernible ability to organize or make these materialize?  Unless you’re savvy of these type of folks, they can be REALLY convincing.  Please, do not confuse or mistake bright or great ideas for APTITUDE.  The true test which demonstrates aptitude is, “CAN YOU APPLY…?”

From a rear-view, make no mistake, ‘successful application’ is the essence of aptitude.  ‘Application’ demonstrates an individual’s ability to observe and take thought, theory, evaluations, etc. and move these properly into action.  In the accident example above, accurate evaluation of future action was properly determined.

Have you ever met someone who blindly followed orders, or carried out series of unnecessary or inapplicable actions (better known as ‘wasting time’)?  These individuals can be ghastly.

EXAMPLE:  Take for instance, there are two children – one & ten-year old.  You instruct both to ‘turn off the bedroom light.’ You’ll obviously witness different response times from both.  The one-year old might respond with a mouth full of bubbles, cute gurgles or silly coos, unable to comprehend or carry out your instruction; whereas the ten-year old, if inclined, could promptly carry out your instruction with little to no difficulty.

Among people, varying aptitude exists.  Take two children around the same age with differing backgrounds.  You request both to close the garage door. However, you’ve left the car parked halfway in the garage.

The first child, perhaps in a hurry or distracted, not witnessing the car’s position, closes the door whereupon damaging the car roof.

The second child, observing and evaluating the scene, opts on an alternative-course which completely avoids any damages, but accomplishes the task.

IMPORTANT OF TALENT APTITUDE

When interviewing new talent or evaluating existing, do not make the mistake of overlooking the importance of aptitude. Understanding and depending the need for stellar aptitudes ensures success.  With known budget constraints, never lower expectations or standards. Certainly do not become reasonable or discouraged because ‘recruitment is unable to find high aptitude talent‘.

Ignoring the importance of aptitude, or becoming complacent, ensures failure.  One way or the other, it will cost you in time, effort or money.

Due to recruitment challenges finding the ‘Michael Jordans’, businesses arbitrarily opt to train and mentor new talent.  This inevitably places extra strain and burden on existing talent, whom most likely carries significant load.  Unless your company is willing take on and tackle mentoring new talent, avoid any degree of reasonableness toward lowered aptitude.  It simply isn’t worth it.

As a word of warning; never get caught up on the guy who impressively “knows” all the terms and nomenclature (buzz words), who is incapable of applying his technology or trade.

The key point is: Can he or she Apply?

Sometimes hard to detect, obfuscated behind ignorance, this ilk of individual can cause significant waste. Aptitude can always be increased through various channels and means (education, mentoring, practice, Scientology, etc.).

Increasing aptitude takes a certain desire or willingness on the part of the individual.

In summary, maintain your standards, and for goodness sake, do not become reasonable. Above all, be that hero who maintains and safeguards business standards by seeking the best talent with the highest of aptitudes.

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