Talents - the kid's done well so acknowledge it

by Mervin Straughan

How many kids return home from school rejoicing in an almost-clean sweep of achievement with their end-of-school-term report only for a parent to question why they have slipped in religious studies or technical drawing?

Must be disheartening especially after so much good has been accomplished.

While there's a role for constructive feedback, this seeking-out-the-negative characteristic is embedded in our culture. Take the media which is adept at reinforcing it. Yes, it has a role in ensuring accountability and guarding against complacency but we gravitate towards identifying the opposite of the positive.

We must be missing out on so much good news.

It's little surprise well being experts advise us to avoid the TV news before taking to bed if we want a good night's sleep.

TALENTS
I now seek solace in my local weekly newspaper which, while not turning a blind eye to society's ills, extols the virtues of my town and its environment. It recognises the effort that goes into every theatre production or fund-raising event and that every local band has potential. We all have talents; it's how we use them either for society or ourselves that sets us apart.

Talent has become a key issue for society, particularly in business. According to Clive Wilson, of talentliberation.com, businesses know they need to recruit and retain the best talent and that means playing to the strengths of their people.

But, he argues, we need to apply the same principle to our personal lives. He says: “We all bring something unique to the workplace and the same applies to our personal time. However, as a society, we are preoccupied with focusing on our weaknesses, attempting to shore them up in the belief that doing so will make us better. But we do so at the expense of our strengths.

“This attitude seems to preoccupy us whether we’re involved in studying, playing sport or general personal development. It’s almost as though we’ve been conditioned to look for the negative in ourselves when there is so much good to recognise. “Yes, there are some basics that we need to get right in life but the message is to stay focused on the talents – these are what will help us achieve our goals.”

The subject is likely to be a hot topic on a new forum that Clive has launched - Releasing Potential - which aims to help individuals to release their own potential as well as that of those around them. The site allows members to share challenges and best practice.

My local paper is playing to its town's strengths and, in doing so, will continue to make it a magnet for investment and improved quality of life.

Society needs all the help it needs so if we have talents, we might as well use them.

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