Identifying talent is not always obvious

The apex of football season highlights the importance of talent.

A friend runs the emergency room of a university hospital. Another doctor once told him about a new treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. His response was, “Don’t treat any of my ER doctors.” Ironically, ADHD – a “disorder” – is a significant asset in emergency rooms. ER physicians must quickly observe and evaluate a multitude of patient circumstances, then move to address the most threatening ones simultaneously.

A critical managerial challenge is to identify talent for key positions. Sometimes the attributes that maximize success in a given role just aren’t obvious.

— Kip Caffey, The Atlanta 100