Lessons Learnt 1- Identifying a talent

Yesterday (28th July 2023), I had the fortune of listening to my Chairman - Dr. P V Ramana ( Ramana Putcha Dr. ). He is an excellent storyteller and his insights of various life lessons are so profound, that it takes hours or days to sink in. His words remain with you and it takes a while to understand the full import.

So he was addressing a young set of employees of LetsUpgrade and our newly launched BTech ( Computer Science ) students at ITM Skills University

He said, when you go for an interview or placement with companies, you do not get selected because " Either they cannot see who you are or you are not able to show them who you can be"

After being in HR for all my life, this statement hit me like a bolt out of the blue. I looked around the gathering and saw employees whom he had given an opportunity to work with him and built an institution, which stood the test of time for 33 years. He fulfilled many dreams and careers. Having worked with him, I understood yesterday that he "could see talent" and put his trust in them, taking risks on what the candidate could not show. I could not learn this in any book nor learn from anyone, how one can "see what someone cannot show !!! their inner strength, dreams, and possibilities" in what we call the selection process ranging from 10 minutes ( in some organizations) or three days ( in some other). All the personality assessment tools at best can give one a map of the person but the interpretation of the map is still based on the judgment and experience of the selector.

While listening to him and making a mental note of all the employees whom he nurtured groomed and gave the opportunity, I noticed that he could make that statement only because he has done it through his life. This statement is not a management jargon or textbook theory. The statement itself is so simple and yet so deep. It is one thing to learn from books and another to learn from a leader as an essence of decades of practice.

I did not want to lose this gem. Sharing so that many can benefit from this insight. Especially in my fraternity to ponder. In an age of automation of the hiring and selection process !! At an age where we are worried that AI would take over the complete selection process, how do we spot such talent? how do we see what cannot be shown? how do we trust in the potential of people and leverage their strengths? how do you take risks on people when you do not see them in person and the entire process is automated? how much potential talent is lost by the organizations in the process ?

I am still stunned......