By Jeff Copper, MBA, PCC, PCAC, CPCC, ACG – October 21, 2024
If you’re like me, you’ve probably heard countless people use the phrase, “Every individual has a unique set of gifts, talents, or abilities at which they excel.” And, in my experience, this is definitely true. However, you’d be surprised to learn the number of people who can’t articulate their own unique set when asked; in fact, many of them find the answer to this question to be difficult and even intimidating.
Usually, they respond by referring to some skill, knowledge, or experience they have (which is not unique, but rather something they learned). Or they focus on what they are not good at or give up by responding, “I don’t know.” Can you articulate with specificity your own unique gifts, talents, or abilities? Do you know how to excavate them?
Excavating your unique gifts, talents, or abilities can be done, but it can be very challenging unless you take the time to understand the following four obstructive barriers that get in the way:
The first barrier is right in our very own culture, which focuses on and emphasizes the use of labels that specify required skills, knowledge, and experience (things that are learned and are transferable from one person to another). Just look at the want ads as an example: a simple job posting seeking a typist with a high school diploma and five years of typing experience. The ad does not address the quality of the typing because it is assumed that, if the person is a typist, they must be good. The employer is simply looking for skills, knowledge, and experience. But what about talent? How do they know if the person is really good at typing?
Consider this: Suppose instead the ad read, “Seeking an individual with a keen eye for detail, coupled with coordinated and swift fingers”? Now, that would describe the unique gifts, talents, and abilities a person could have that would make them a great typist. Note that unique gifts, talents, and abilities are described, not labeled. Sadly, our society’s simplistic use of labels conditions us to look in the wrong place to excavate talents.
The second challenge is the English language. It can be vague and have overlaps and gaps. Take for example the words: “skills,” “knowledge,” “experience,” “strengths,” “gifts,” “talents,” and “abilities.” What are the exact differences among the meanings of all these words? To illustrate in a different way, consider the word “leader.” Society uses it as a one-size-fits-all label, but aren’t there various kinds of leaders? You have the first person in line, and you have those who are leaders by virtue of their titles. These are the easily recognizable labels society uses to define a leader.
But, what about those individuals who are just so charismatic that others naturally follow them? Think of Martin Luther King, Jr., as an example. Or what about those who have emerged from a group in a time when their special skill, knowledge, or talent is required to move that group forward? So, how do you label these types of leaders? Does each type of leader have the same talents, or do they require different talents? The answers to these questions are vast and varied. As you can see, using words to describe exactly what you mean can be challenging.
The third barrier is simply that identifying talents with specificity can be just plain difficult. Take for instance Carl Lewis, an amazing track and field athlete who won Olympic gold in the 100- and 200-meter dash, the 4×100-meter and the 4×200-meter relay, as well as the long jump. The question is: What kept him from the podium in the 110-meter hurdle? Did he lack a needed skill or talent? Exactly what was missing? The point here is that we know he was born with the fast twitch muscle of a sprinter and long jumper, but what talent was it that specifically kept him from excelling in running hurdles?
The fourth barrier is: How do you know if you have a talent if you have never seen evidence of it? Here’s an absurd example to illustrate this: Consider a person who was born with an incredible voice. If he or she never tried to sing, there would be no evidence of a natural talent and, thus, it may be overlooked. So, in order to define or identify your unique gift, talent, or ability, you need to have experienced it.
In summary, all of these barriers serve as distractions from excavating what you actually seek. So, if you are seeking clarity on your unique gifts, talents, and abilities, I encourage you to let go of conventional language, reflect on past successes or areas of interest, and open your mind. Begin to pay attention to the subtle differences and look for the patterns. If you relax, take the pressure off, and be patient, you might be surprised at what reveals itself.
We invite your comments, so let us know your thoughts on this topic.