One of the main factors that contributes to a company’s success is the quality of its managerial team. But are great managers born or made? This question is discussed in an article from Quartz that details how HR departments have been overlooking employees with management talent.
Quartz reports that Gallup Analytics has found that analytics can be useful when determining individual ability to manage. As the article suggests, some HR departments rely on instinct to find the best potential managers, but this older method may not be effective. Analytics, on the other hand, has the potential to pick up on the talent that HR is missing.
The article points to the fact that employee engagement in the U.S. is low, and that much of this can be attributed to the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of management. With this in mind, it is in the best interest of the company to identify the individuals with the greatest talent for managing.
“Gallup has found that just one in 10 have the natural, God-given talent to manage teams effectively. Those gifted individuals know how to maximize the potential of everyone on their team; boldly review performance; build relationships; overcome adversity; and make decisions based on productivity, not politics. They are born, not made. They are wired differently. The ‘scouts’ in the HR department might think that person over there with an MBA can manage, but she may not have a natural gift for it,” writes Jim Clifton, chairman and CEO of Gallup.
So what can HR departments do to ensure that the best candidates are put into management positions? The solution, as Gallup suggests, may be to take an analytical approach when making these decisions. An HR software solution can serve as an important tool in the process.