The most important process within any company is training and development. Without this process employees do not know the goals of the company.
Traditionally, training and development has focused on improving employee’s weaknesses. However, a new theory in training and development focuses on deliberate practice to improve employee’s strengths.
An important skill of all good leaders is the ability to hire people whose strengths are the leader’s weaknesses. With this philosophy, everyone in the group has a purpose.
There are only so many hours in a work day. Among achieving results, performing tasks and making the company’s goals, employees have a limited amount of time on which to improve their work. Thus, this new philosophy spends time on the employee’s strengths rather than their weaknesses because strengths can be improved much quicker.
Performance appraisals have traditionally focused on improving employee’s weaknesses. Once the appraisal is completed, a development plan is conceived which focuses on methods to improve weaker areas. If these areas are necessary for the employee to do their job, it is important to improve those areas. However, with further evaluation, it might be discovered that the employee’s strengths are better suited to another position within the company.
Talent is nothing without practice. Even the most talented athlete must practice in order to achieve greatness. The same is true in business. An employee may have a natural talent for a certain skill, task, etc. however, that talent must be developed and improved upon in order for the employee to become great. Thus, deliberate practice is used. Deliberate practice focuses on the employee’s talent or their strengths, rather than their weakness or failures.
People who use their natural born talents at work are typically happier and more fulfilled in their positions. Natural talent equates to love. For example, if you are a natural athlete you typically love playing sports. Again, this is true for business. If you love to cook, you might have a natural tendency to want to become a chef.
Unfortunately, too many people don’t follow their natural instincts when it comes to choosing a career. They have a tendency to choose positions for which they do not have a natural talent. Therefore, they must focus on their weaknesses in order to improve. If they chose to take a position based on their natural talent, not only would they enjoy their job more, but they would also be able to improve their strengths or their natural talents through deliberate practice.
It may be clich but it is true: Practice makes Perfect.
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