How to Develop & Attract Talent

Having an eye for talent is as much of a skill as having the talent itself. Be it music, the arts or athletics, developing and attracting talent is necessary for any good manager or talent scout. There is no quantifiable, objective way to identify talent. It depends on what the person judging it believes in. There are ways to hedge your bet and certify your credentials in order to appear that you know what you are talking about, but, ultimately, the decision on talent comes down to taste.

Instructions

1. Develop your taste. Depending upon the type of talent you are looking to develop, you must take an avid interest in the subject. If it is music, develop your own personal taste and style. If it is the arts, decide which you prefer, film or theater, ballet or orchestra. If it is athletics, decide what sport you enjoy most.

2. Educate yourself. A talent scout should have some training on the subject they are scouting and preferably have credentials to back up their opinions. A music talent manager should be able to play an instrument or be educated in musical appreciation. A talent scout in the arts should be classically trained in the respective art, or have critical experience or a college degree in such field. An athletic scout should know how to play the sport he is scouting and, preferably, know how to play, or coach, a specific position in that sport.

3. Increase your charm and attractiveness. This is the business-savvy part of working with talent. You need the experience to be able to develop talent, but you also need the personality to attract talent. You must appear likable and, most of all, capable of being able to work with other people. It is these people-skills that will allow you to be able to effectively deal with others on behalf of the talent you represent. The traits that will allow you to attract talent are the same traits that will allow you keep talent around you so that you can nurture it. You must be likable and you must be effective at articulating and executing the desires of the talent you represent.

Tips & Warnings

• The principles for developing and attracting talent are similar in a variety of fields, such as business or academia. Even if you are not representing talent, you may desire to work with talent. Authority, likability and effectiveness are all key consistent traits.

References

• The Times; How do I become a talent manager; Fay Schopen; April 5, 2007
• Work Life Idea; Become a Talent Manager; Putra; April 29, 2008