“See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship”
… And behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you.
Exodus 31:2-3, 6
God puts a part of Himself into everyone; which part has He given you? One of the most important leadership skills is to be able to identify the talent God has placed into you, into others and create a plan that develops both.
A bad hire rarely becomes a good employee. When hiring, discerning who fits on the team and in what position is critical for success. When miscast in the wrong position, even talented people struggle when running in a lane that is not a right fit for them. Right placement of talent leads to high performance, and the opposite is also true. Anytime I am dealing with a performance problem, I ask myself three questions:
ABILITY: Does the person have the ability to do the job? If I hire talent, I can train the skill if the raw material is there to develop the individual.
ATTITUDE: Does the person have a willingness to do what I am asking them to do? If there is not a willingness, I cut my losses quickly. I prefer rehabilitation over termination, but you can’t help someone who is going to fight you along the way. Even God gets fed up at some point in a wrestling match with the stubborn.
FIT: Does the person belong in the position I have put them in? Genius emerges when it’s placed in an environment where it can thrive. If a person is a “fit” with staff, a “fit” in position, and a “fit” with me, I know that low performance can be traced back to ability or attitude. Recruiting talent, finding the right fit, developing the person, and discerning the path to performance is a critical skill of every leader.
REFLECT TO CONNECT
- If you have ever struggled in a job, has it occurred to you that you might not be in the right position?
- For the people you know that are struggling in a position, is it due to attitude, ability, or fit?
- What giftedness has God deposited into the people you are responsible for in your life?
When you find your FIT, it unlocks the greatness of God He’s put inside of you.
