5 tips for leveraging talent within your organization

Some may be more aware of it than others, but everyone has talents. Talents are things that are considered natural, easy and ordinary. They are the things you get compliments on and are good at. They are things that suit you. Whether it's creative or work-related, everyone has something they're good at.

It is important to make good use of talents. It ensures that employees enjoy what they do more, perform better and feel better about themselves.The only question is: how do you get more out of the talent of your employees? Or even better: how can you better express talent within your organization? We list five tips for you.

1. Discover what your employees' talents are

To do something with talents, it is first important that your employees know what their talents are. Let employees discover these talents. For example, have them keep track for a week of which activities and tasks at work energize them and which ones cost them energy. Another way they can discover talents is to have them think of three moments when they accomplished something. It doesn't matter what those moments are, as long as they felt good and positive about them.

2. Find out if talents are being used properly

Is it now clear what the talents are? Then find out whether they are being used in the right way. For example, if one of your employees is extremely good at communicating, he or she should not spend all day in front of a computer analyzing data. Look at each employee's talents and take advantage of them.

Further, it is also important to look at where talents are just not used enough. Suppose your employees are efficient workers, but they work in a restless environment with a lot of clutter. Make sure they can use their efficiency in all possible areas. And so that also means a tidy work environment. A quiet space provides structure, which in turn can ensure that your employees' talents are better utilized.

3. Put the focus on talent development

There are many organizations in which talent development receives too little or no attention. Many companies are all about achieving goals and results, leaving too little focus on what employees can do and what they are good at. Make employees feel that their talents matter and give them room to find and develop them. Discuss this during periodic meetings and actively ask your employees about it. Perhaps you can pay attention to it organization-wide by, for example, declaring the talent of the month.

4. Ask questions and demonstrate exemplary behavior

You can encourage talent development by continually asking employees questions about how things are going. What could be done better? Build a culture in which you strive for improvement as an entire organization. If that succeeds, employees will also start looking at what they themselves can do better.

In addition, look at yourself as a manager. Make sure you set an example. If your employees see that you continue to develop your talents, they will automatically do the same. It has a stimulating effect.

5. Take a more targeted approach

At many companies, there are no special training paths for talent. Talent development always just has to fit within the plans and budgets that are offered by default. This is a waste. Take a more targeted approach to ensure that employees can get the best out of themselves. For example, offer an online learning environment where employees can discover their talents through scans and, with the help of matching training, get straight to work to develop their talents even better. This allows you to focus talent development directly on all employees. This is important because only then can the talent strategy be grounded in the heart of the company. As a result, the business strategy will improve, talents will be better utilized and the organization will grow.

Leveraging talent better in your organization?

In SkillsTown's online learning environment, employees have the space to develop their talent in their own way. The online training courses are accessible, user-friendly and provide a boost in both the professional and personal development of your employees.

Want to know more about the possibilities of an online learning environment for your organization?