20 Nov 2006, Posted by Lance in Leadership, No Comments.

Things That Do Not Require Talent

Things That Do Not Require Talent

By Dr. John C. Maxwell

Talent grips us. We are
overtaken by the beauty of Michelangelo’s sculpture, riveted by Mariah
Carey’s angelic voice, doubled over in laughter by the comedy of Robin
Williams, and captivated by the on screen performances of Denzel
Washington.

However, we live in a world of
upsets. The most talented do not always end up as celebrities, and
those with less talent often do. Upsets are written into our history
and occur around us every day. A ragtag army of revolutionaries
defeated the British Empire to free the American colonies and to found
a new nation. As a startup company, Google outwitted and outperformed
entrenched search engines which had far more capital and name
recognition.

Why are the most talented not always the best? What enables the less skilled to be, at times, far more successful?

The goal of this edition of LW
is not to minimize talent, but to emphasize qualities independent of
talent which, when practiced, add value to others and ourselves. While
the four traits I’ve highlighted in this lesson are not comprehensive,
they are among the most prominent qualities that do not rely upon
talent.

Teachability

The desire to listen, learn, and
apply is not innate, but when cultivated, it aids the growth and
development of a leader. In the words of Henry Brooks Adams “They know
enough who know how to learn.”

Look for and plan your teachable
moments. Intentionally ask questions to draw out the depth of
experience and knowledge in those around you. My best friends are my
best teachers. I love to learn, and I am fascinated by individuals who
have a wealth of wisdom to share. As Beltasar Gracian said, “Make your
friends your teachers and mingle the pleasures of conversation with the
advantages of instruction.” Find teachable moments, and make them
count. Live to learn and you will really learn to live.

Successful people view learning
differently than those who are less successful. For successful leaders,
learning is as necessary as breathing. They crave knowledge and seek it
out through books, conferences, conversations, and evaluated
experiences. The unsuccessful person is burdened by learning, and
prefers to walk down familiar paths. Their distaste for learning stunts
their growth and limits their influence.

Initiative

Initiative is the inner drive
that propels leaders to achieve great dreams. American founding father,
Benjamin Franklin, held to the following maxim about initiative: “To
succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.”
Leaders with initiative have an eagerness to make things happen. They
have a positive restlessness that prevents them from being content with
average.

A person with initiative accepts
responsibility for his or her own life. Such a person authors their own
history. As Elbert Hubbard says, “The world bestows its prizes, both
its money and honors, on one thing and that’s initiative. What is
initiative? I will tell you. It is doing the right thing without being
told.” Initiators incline themselves toward action.

Passion

Passion is a faultless predictor
of success. How many high achievers lack enthusiasm? How many great
leaders do you admire who are indifferent? A dispassionate person will
not go far before they give up hope of achieving big dreams. On the
other hand, a person of passion will move mountains to see their dream
come to fruition. Passion long outlasts talent for a leader in pursuit
of a vision.

When it comes to passion, there
are two kinds of people: fire lighters and fire fighters. Fire fighters
focus on what’s wrong with an idea rather than what’s right. They
possess a doubting spirit, and they resist change. Fire fighters love
the words “Yes, but.” They are always finding flaws, and they dampen
the fire inside of those around them.

Avoid fire fighters at all
costs, and instead, seek out fire lighters. Fire lighters are
encouragers. They uplift and sustain others through tough times. They
share in triumphs, and spur others toward bigger and better
performances.

Successful individuals
prioritize their commitments according to their passion. They refuse to
be dissuaded from living out the dream inside of them. When troubles
come, they don’t have to artificially generate perseverance—it sweeps
over them like an ocean wave.

Courage

Courage is an every day test. We
often think of courage as a quality required only in times of great
danger or stress, but courage is an everyday virtue, needed to live a
life without regrets. In the words of James Harvey Robinson,
“Greatness, in the last analysis, is largely bravery. Courage is
escaping from old ideas and old standards and respectable ways of doing
things.”

Plentiful reasons add courage to
the list of admirable qualities that exist apart from talent. We need
courage to seek the truth when we know it may be painful. We need
courage to change when it’s easier to remain comfortable. We need
courage to express our convictions when others challenge us. We need
courage to learn and grow, especially when doing so exposes our
weaknesses. We need courage to take the high road when others treat us
badly, and lastly, we need courage to lead when being in front makes us
an easy target for criticism.

Perhaps Miguel Cervantes best
summarizes courage: “He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses
friends loses more; but he who loses his courage loses all.”

Summary

There is no substitute for
talent, but there are several supplements that can transform even
modest talent into greatness. Teachability, initiative, passion, and
courage are a sampling of qualities that endow talent with
effectiveness and spur average skills sets into extraordinary success
stories. Don’t minimize talent, but magnify the qualities that can
accompany it, and build them day by day.

-Esse Quam Videri-