“Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see.”
– Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher (1788 – 1860)
We get so wrapped up in trying to find talent, that it’s easy to lose sight of the role that intelligence and creativity plays.
When someone leaves, either by their doing or ours, our inclination is to recruit to the role, the job description or the predecessor’s strengths or weaknesses.
In the final analysis, though, it’s about “fit,” and fit almost always comes down to a candidate who somehow, some way will make everyone better.
That’s why we ought to look for genius. Not IQ genius, although that counts for something, but the kind of genius that sees targets others can’t imagine, and then, when those targets get hit, lifts up the whole organization via the accomplishment.
We can always find the next mechanic, sales person, accountant, project manager, operations pro, or even CEO. When we find the person who, by the sheer force of their genius, changes the game for everyone, then we have recruited in such a way that everyone wins, and wins big.
Caution: It will require us to think differently, interview differently, probe thoroughly and imagine without boundaries. If we’re willing to jump in with that mindset, transformation awaits us!
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