Talent and skills

Talent and skills are both valid, but only one leads to true leadership, and it’s not the one we're born with.

We’re all born with talents. Talent allows us some ease to be good at something without trying too hard.

Some are born with a great singing voice, and others with the genetics to run fast.

When we spend time developing our talents, we can become exceptional.

The downside is that we only have a limited number of them and when we’re praised for our talent, we risk developing a fixed mindset about who we are and what we can become good at.

But skills come in abundance. With intention, deliberate practice, and time, we can become skilled at nearly anything.

It’s always a question of whether a skill is worth the time and effort.

A common mistake is believing leadership is a talent, something we’re born with.

We might be at ease speaking publicly, being influential, or having a great vision. All those aren’t enough to be a true leader on their own.

Leadership is defining success as something more than hitting a number. It’s serving stakeholders but not to the detriment of the people or the environment around us. It’s making hard choices that consider more than just what the law requires as a minimum.

Talent and skills are both valid, but only one leads to true leadership, and it’s not the one we’re born with.

We can all be great leaders if we put in the time, energy and effort.

Miguel,
Sparknotion – Think Differently.