Discover hidden talents: get to know your staff

You want to make a change to your business and you need someone in a particular role. Take a look at your own staff first as you may find the capability there.

They would be delighted if you offered them the chance to develop their career in a new direction, and you could be up and running faster as they already know your business.

Talk to your staff about their interests

As well as building a good team spirit in your company, talking to your staff about themselves can spring surprises. Outside work they could be doing something as a hobby or in a charitable service organization that bears no relation to the sort of work they do for you.

And it could be that they have always wanted to build this into their career but haven't found a way to do it - early on they took a particular direction and got qualifications in an area that they are OK with but it doesn't really fire them up.

They get their real kicks out of what they do outside.

Don't waste that talent

So what are we talking about? Here are some ideas. You employee might be:

• chief fundraiser for a small charity,
• organizing fit-ups outside - staging, lighting, sound, seating, dealing with acts and property owners - for amateur stage shows, 
• secretary, treasurer or even chairman of a 200-member club or service organization, or
• a member of Round Table or a Rotary Club, or a Mason. 

What does this say about them? The are showing skills and above all an interest in marketing, project management, administration, bookkeeping, management, networking, and in the last example, a real desire to put something back into their community.

They could possibly do any of this for you also. Give them the chance and even offer them some training.

A perfect example

Some years ago before I escaped into the world of business, I worked on clean nuclear power - nuclear fusion - in a government lab. We were looking for someone to head up a new £10 million experimental facility and we offered the post to a theoretician - someone who knew the physics inside-out and could do the maths and computing.

But what about his engineering skills? Well - I knew that this person, outside work, rebuilt cars as a hobby. He knew a bit about mechanical work and electronics, and how to put it all together to make it work - to pass its MOT and run on the road. 

He was a great choice, and, supported by professional engineers and physicists, what a great career move that was for him.

This could work for you and your business in junior positions as well as senior roles up to board level. Give it a try.