Is Skill or Talent More Important - Essay Example

Topic Skill vs Talent Introduction Skill and talent are two attributed that possessed by people in varying degree and nature according to their capability. Skill is an acquired attribute while talent is an inborn feature. Skill can be inferior or superior in people according to their ability to learn things. Some people are more skillful and talented than others .Learning and adaptability are the key elements of skill. One without another is not of much importance. .Learning is the input jack – it is how we acquire knowledge. Adaptability is the output – jack, it is the process by which we respond to change and apply new behaviors. When one uses the skill, one begins by taking in knowledge about oneself – ones strength and weaknesses as an individual. According to Niven(2008, pg. 25)“Talents are recurring feelings, behavior, thought that distinguish a person. They are innate and very difficult to teach”. A person who cannot attain talent has to be trained in order to possess qualities equivalent to it. Unless you are born with talent it is difficult to cultivate it through practice. No job is too simple or complex to require talent. Talents are difficult to teach unlike skill. A person with talent is indeed an asset to an organization but a person who is trained to gain valuable experience also can contribute a lot to organizations. Skill is required in many fields of human activities like talent. People can be motivated to acquire skill but talent is the gift of nature. The Concept of Skill The skill is a concept about change and a change that is based on learning. Skill is like self coaching and is necessary for individuals to advance in personal and professional field. People who are mastered in skill can invariably become more effective and efficient in their careers. Without skill people can suffer in many areas and acquiring skill can promote their professional and personality status. Skill can be acquired in specific areas and this need to be done by getting training under special mentor. Skill can be acquired on communication, sports, writing, creativity, management and so on. Skill can only be possessed by having a complete knowledge about a particular subject. Skills have less value compared to knowledge. The concept of skill is extremely important in education, profession and life. Human skills varies from people to people .Every person possess skill in a particular subject .People come with different nature and hence the skills possessed by them also differs. A skill is something which we have learned with an effort from our side like learning to cook, drive a car, or learn to sew. Acquiring a skill is in the hands of an individual and with his knowledge and expert he can master any skill he will for. As per Haden(2011)“Over time your skills become automatic .Automatic is a good thing, because it means you’ve internalized a skill, but automatic is also a bad thing because anything automatic is hard to adjust”. The Concept of Talent Talent is an inborn ability and cannot be acquired by a person with any amount of effort .A person possess talent effortlessly. Talent is confidence, intelligence and natural ability in a person. People can be significantly different in the measure of talent they possess. Some people are distinctively talented while some does not possess any particular talent in any field. Talent is a quality one is born with and may be passed on from his parents or ancestors. Talent is a potentiality of a person to carry on a specific task in a perfect manner. In the article Greg(2009) mentions that “Talent’ is alleged a potential trait, a symptom of nascent ability, a foreshadowing of future greatness, or a way of explaining someone’s early achievements or performance advantage”. Talent is a valuable and desirable quality. It can be defined as a special faculty or an aptitude gifted by nature. So we can talk about like a “talented musician” or a “talented foot ball player”. In both these examples we look at the special competency or special aptitude of a person. As per Davis(2007,pg54)“Talent is not restricted to particular grades or areas of responsibility .It appear at all work levels and in all functions”. Talent is potentially most competent competing advantage. A talented person may not be trained immensely to perform a particular deed or act. They have the innate quality to perform the particular activity with precise and perfection with less effort, Talent cannot be influenced or changed by an external force as it is a part of a being. Comparing skill and talent Both the skill and talent are qualities possessed by a human being. Both these attributes help a person to be successful in his career and personal life. Skill and talent both are intangible qualities and cannot be measured in quantity. Skill and talent can be applied to same subjects and areas of activities .Skill can be present in a person related to communication, writing, singing or sports and talent also can be possessed by a person in the above said areas. Every person can have skill and talent simultaneously present in them in one way or another. Talent like skill also can be polished by the support of knowledge and training. Talent and skill, both cane be enhanced by regular practice and training. It is the skill and talent in a person which enable him to climb the ladder in case of education and profession. Both talent and skill can be destroyed if it is not recognized and practiced in the proper manner. A person needs to identify his or her talent and modify it to apply it to certain situations and areas. In the article Yogi(2011)states that “For any endeavor there is a combination of talent and skill that come to bear in order to determine the final outcome”. Even if a person has talent he needs to nurture it and train it in order to achieve success .The same is the case with skill, the more you get trained the more competent one will be in a special activity. Skill and talent is a quality which enhances the confidence and personality of a person. A person possessing skill and talent is treated with great respect and value by employers and other people in the society. Contrast between Skill and Talent Talent is an innate quality in a person and skill is an acquired quality. Talent is a natural ability of a person to do something while skill is a quality acquired by a person with an effort from the part of an individual. A skill is something which can be enhanced, improved and learned by an individual. Skill is learned by one by routine activity with the help of the talent they possess. As per Bukisa,(2009)“Most people use talent and skill interchangeably. However, they are not the same and it can make a huge difference if we can identify and differentiate between talents and skills within ourselves and in people around us”. Talent cannot be taught to a person, it is a gift from nature. A talented person always will be perfect in the activity which he is talented in. But skill of a person can be multiplied by continued training and practice from the part of a person. A talented person can win over a skilled person as he has more competencies in the selected field. Skills can never be a substitute for talent. A skill of a person can be increased if he has enough talent in a particular acitivity.Every person has distinctive talent in a particular thing but skill can be developed by any person with enough effort and hard work. Conclusion Skill and talent may be two different concepts, but these qualities are significantly important in the life of a person. Skill is essential for talent to give benefit to an individual. In the article Peterson(2008)claims that “Without building a good skill base, all the talent in the world wont make you a good artist or craftsman”. Raw talent may not be of much use if it is not trained well and practiced effectively. People have a notion that only talent can make a person successful in any field. But talent needs to be directed in the right way to make it beneficial for the person. A person can have both talent and skill and such a person is valued much in the society. Skill and talent, both is needed for a person to achieve success in profession and life. Skill alone can bring positive effect in a person life but talent needs to be polished sufficiently to bring about excellence. Skill and talent can be compared as it is a qualitative value in a person and is intangible in nature. A person who is lucky can have talent but a person who is hardworking and dedicated can acquire skill. Talent may not require any attempt from a person and can be ignored by one. But skill cannot be ignored as it is acquired by hard work and persistent effort. An intelligent person can acquire skill with dedication and hard work but talent cannot be possessed by a person with any amount of effort. According to Sorenson (2000)“Talent reflects how youre hard-wired. Thats what sets the concept apart from that of knowledge or skills”. A person in order to be perfect needs to give time and energy on developing skills in case he lacks enough talent. References Bukisa. 2009. Talent vs Skill - How can we benefit by knowing the difference?. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/138125_talent-vs-skill-how-can-we-benefit-by-knowing-the-difference. [Accessed 08 September 11] Davis, T., 2007. Talent assessment: a new strategy for talent management . 1st ed. Hampshire: Gower publishing Limited Greg.D., 2009. Talent : A difference that make a difference. [ONLINE] Available at: http://neuroanthropology.net/2009/05/20/talent-a-difference-that-makes-a-difference/. [Accessed 08 September 11] Haden. J.,2011. How to master any skill. [ONLINE] Available at: http://ffbsccn.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/how-to-master-any-skill-no-talent-required/. [Accessed 08 September 11]. Niven, P.R., 2008. Balanced scorecard step-by-step for government and nonprofit agencies . 1st ed. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons. Peterson. B.,2008. Talent versus Skill. [ONLINE] Available at: http://pottery.about.com/b/2008/12/27/talent-versus-skill.htm. [Accessed 08 September 11] Sorensen.K., 2000. Exactly What Is Talent, Anyway?. [ONLINE] Available at: http://gmj.gallup.com/content/412/exactly-what-talent-anyway.aspx. [Accessed 08 September 11]. Yogi.R., 2011. Talents vs skill. [ONLINE] Available at: http://sethigherstandards.com/2011/08/21/talent-vs-skill/. [Accessed 08 September 11] Read More