Net yourself some talent!
Featured in the Talent Management training manual
By Adelaide Shone
Category: Management
Credit price: 3 download credits (Single user)
In an organisation where there are people with recognised talent potential, encouraging these people to share their knowledge, skills and experience with each other is just as important as the contribution they make collectively to the organisation in achieving its business objectives. ‘Binding’ talent together, within a structured support network, encourages comradeship, a common identity and a common sense of purpose. One crucial, potential benefit is that if people with high-talent potential feel they belong to the network and have a role in supporting and developing other people with high-talent potential, then they are less likely to want to leave the organisation. A network can be as simple as encouraging two newly recruited managers to discuss the challenges of their new posts together and compare how their knowledge and skills are being utilised by the organisation. It can develop in a multi-site organisation with every new manager, across every site, taking the time to discuss their roles and problem-solve together. But these opportunities must be facilitated by the organisation. Whatever the shape and design of a network, it must be an integral part of the structure of the organisation, with an agreed format and scope. It must never be seen as an add-on. Acting as a mentor to this network is another contribution the manager can make in managing talent potential.
The training activity opens with the participants and the trainer collaboratively defining the word ‘talent’. Then, in teams, participants brainstorm ‘mentoring’, looking at three key areas: what a mentor does, examples of mentoring, and sharing personal experiences of mentoring. The main part of the training activity encourages participants to explore what a network could look like and how it could function in their own organisations by constructing a spider diagram. The trainer provides some key questions that participants need to consider. Also provided is a model spider diagram as a guide for participants to construct their own spider diagrams for a talent potential network to support talent within their organisations.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to introduce participants to the concept that if people with high-talent potential support other staff with high-talent potential, then this adds to a sense of purpose and community.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 20 |
| Typical Duration: | 01:25:00 |
| No of Pages: | 19 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers with participants of all levels of ability and experience to consider the nature of a network to support people with high-talent potential. Even if there are some common features and generic structures, in reality the most important feature of any support network is that it meets the talent needs of the individuals and reflects the business needs of the organisation. This training activity can also be used as part of a programme on management skills, mentoring, motivation, organisation development and team building.
Download the training activity, Net yourself some talent! as featured in the Fenman training manual; Talent Management