What defines Top Talent?

As a longtime manager, I used to firmly believe that the best employees were the smartest and hardest working ones. Give me top grades from Ivy League schools, and a resume full of 80-hour work weeks; that’s the ideal employee, right? While intelligence and drive are certainly important qualities, after over a decade in leadership roles, I’ve realized there is so much more that goes into what makes employees excel. The secret is focusing less on stats and credentials, and more on cultivating an environment where diverse talents can truly thrive.

I first started questioning my assumptions years ago when I hired Adam straight out of college.

On paper, he didn’t check all the typical boxes: his GPA was average and his previous work experience was limited. But in our interview, he showed a passion for our mission and a contagious enthusiasm. I took a chance on him, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Adam consistently exceeded expectations with his work. More importantly, he brought so much energy and positivity to the team. He became the glue that held us together on stressful deadline days. I came to realize raw smarts or credentials alone don’t determine great work, qualities like empathy, teamwork, and grit play a huge role too.

My views evolved even more w