From talent management to talent liberation

Talent management as practiced in most organisations is not fit for purpose. It is driven by an underlying assumption that talent is scarce; it is based on narrow views of future organisational needs and individual cases. A more dynamic approach is needed that harnesses more of the talent that is lying dormant and that recognises the real challenges facing organisations and individuals in this changing work environment. Talent liberation provides a solution. It looks to maximise existing talent, building agility, engagement and capability through a partnership approach that extends beyond the traditional boundaries of the organisation.

The 5 principles of talent liberation

  1. Talent is not as scarce as we think.

    "Ready now" talent may be in short supply, but there are lots of people with the "raw materials", (fitting into the Personal Best, Personal Strenghts and High Potential descriptions of talent). We need to be better at finding ways to tap into this.

  2. High performance is a result of teams, culture and individuals.

    Sustainable high performance is achieved through talented teams, an enabling culture and strong individuals - we need to consider all three elements.

  3. We need to be responsive to changing talent needs.

    Future business needs may change, to be ready to respond to these, we need to prepare for a range of scenarios by having access to a diversity of skills, experiences and behaviour and being willing to access these in different ways.

  4. Formal processes are only part of the answer.

    Formal elements of talent management tend to be bureaucratic and inflexible, they need to be balanced by support for informal approaches and a culture which encourages developing and engaging talent, allowing solutions to emerge.

  5. Success depends on partnership between the organisation and the people.

    Motivation is a key component of performance, therefore any approach to talent needs to address this, finding common ground between individual and organisational rather than everything just for the benefit of the organisation.

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Who we are

We are passionate about liberating talent throughout organisations. We offer consultancy services, in-house events, workshops, keynotes and a range of talent liberation resources, including our influential book, "From Talent Management to Talent Liberation".

To find out more about how we can work with you, see our services and please get in touch!

Book cover design of

From Talent Management to Talent Liberation

A book by Dr Maggi Evans, Prof John Arnold and Dr Andrew Rothwell

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