Every member of a team has special skills. These aren’t necessarily things that appear in your title or job description. But they are talents you use on a daily basis.
Back in my TV news days, people would say that as a reporter, my storytelling ability could turn lemons into lemonade. (Some also used a similar analogy, where the end product was chicken salad.) I could find ways to make an average story better or even a good story great. Whether it was through writing, visuals, or editing, I would find ways to make the material more engaging for the viewer.
This didn’t mean I was a perfect reporter. I wasn’t the guy you’d turn to for a complicated six month investigation or the person who would invest hours working a source to get a story.
My ability to find a creative way to elevate the quality of a story is what set me apart. I was able to squeeze the lemons to help make lemonade.
Pretty much everyone in an organization has special skills but not all of them are given an opportunity to use them in a way that helps the business. These are the things that people do really well and are talents recognized by others.
Special Skills Example
You may have a tremendous understanding of grammar. You know the rules and can easily notice mistakes. While grammar may not be considered an important part of your job, does that mean the skill shouldn’t be used to help the business?
If you had an employee like this, would it not make make sense for him or her to be an extra pair of eyes that reviews outgoing communication? Would that employee not feel more engaged by being able to showcase a talent?
Discovering Special Skills
Don’t fall into the trap of thinking employees are just job descriptions. People may have additional talents. Why not use them?
A good way to identify them is to ask your team what each member does really well. Sometimes this talent is a surprise to the employee. He or she may just “do it” without much thought.
Next, consider if there are other ways the special skills could be used. For instance, if someone has an extremely clean and organized desk, then maybe that person should be involved in other tasks that involve organization.
Please note that while this may involve more work, I’m a strong believer that extra work should receive additional compensation. Compensation can be defined as money but can also include things like training, other growth opportunities, or mentoring.
Final Thought on Special Skills
Two qualified people can perform the same job with different talents. Promote employee engagement, retention, and organizational effectiveness by conducting an inventory of your team’s special skills.
Does your next meeting need something special?
