Elusive Talents

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#000033" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Georgia" ><B>Ansley Consulting Group</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>    |</B><B>   </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Copperplate Gothic Bold" ><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ansley Consulting Group"><U><B>home</B></U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id290.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Tips for Job Seekers"><U><B>Tips for Job Seekers</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id289.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Passion Vision"><U><B>Passion & Vision</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id284.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judgment Integrity"><U><B>Judgment & Integrity</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id280.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Health Care Mon$ter"><U><B>Health 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Consulting is a member of:  </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.metroatlantachamber.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.metroatlantachamber.com"><U>Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.midtownalliance.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.midtownalliance.org"><U>The Midtown Alliance</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.buckheadbusiness.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.buckheadbusiness.org"><U>Buckhead Business Association</U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B><U>Elusive Talents</U></B></div> <div> <B>The Ansley Advisor--June 2002</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Baskerville Old Face" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B><U>The Elusive Talents of Strategic Thinking and Innovation</U></B></div> <bR> <div> By <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#990080" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><A HREF="http://www.ansleygroup.com/id214.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ansleygroup.com/id214.htm"><U><U>Allen Robinson</U></U></A></FONT>--Senior Principal--Atlanta Office</div> <div> The Ansley Consulting Group</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="4ae5d830.jpg" border=0 width="93" height="131" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="5" VSPACE="6"></div> <div> All companies share at least one thing in common…the need for executives to fill such traditional roles as finance, information technology, marketing, logistics and distribution.  Over the last two decades, <I>strategic planning</I> has assumed a more prominent position in that list.  Often a cliché, it is true that market conditions change more frequently today, highlighting the need for strategic planning.  As competitive pressures increase, customer understanding becomes more complex and growth opportunities often require more innovation and creativity.  </div> <bR> <div> Hiring and retaining executive talent consistently ranks as one of the top challenges for senior management, from the largest Fortune 100 companies to the smallest not-for-profit organizations.  When searching for this executive talent, what is the key desired trait?  In a recent American Management Association (AMA) survey among top executives, <U>strategic thinking and related conceptual skills</U> topped the list among traits that were important to the organization.  Sounds simple…just surround yourself with management talent that has the necessary functional knowledge <U>and</U> the ability to think strategically.  But what about this vague quality of strategic thinking?  </div> <bR> <div> There are many traits to look for in the hiring process to best identify the right individuals.  Problem-solving ability, adaptability, people skills and drive are all important factors.  But what characteristics can you look for to help identify the true strategic thinker?  Case interviewing, long established among strategic consulting firms' interview methods, is an often-used tool.  Unfortunately it has inherent weaknesses as it measures a candidate's ability to solve problems in a structured manner, utilizing academic tools and frameworks.  This is without question an important skill, but does it accurately predict the ability to apply true innovation to a company's strategy?  Gary Hamel, a noted strategy author and academician, argues, “…the essential insight does not come out of any regimented planning process….” </div> <bR> <div> There is no absolute prescription to help build a senior management team of strategic thinkers.  There are, however, useful correlations that can help.  Creative insight, an important ingredient in strategic thinking, is the product of an active mind.  Shira White, in <I>New Ideas About New Ideas</I>, writes that a common theme she finds in interviews with innovative business leaders is passion…“passion for life, for work, for discovery.  From their earliest memories; they have been adventurers, explorers, questioners and seekers.”  Other experts have reached similar conclusions about personality traits of successful innovators.  Through their passion for both their career and personal life, they are most often voracious learners who seek a holistic understanding of most subjects they deal with on a daily basis.    </div> <bR> <div> How can you integrate these ideas into your screening and interview process?  Often the answers are not found on a resume listed among job responsibilities and accomplishments.  Instead look for evidence of a broad mind.  Can the person discuss the macro trends within their industry or are they limited to a more myopic view dominated by their functional knowledge?   Do they spend at least part of their spare time learning new subjects or pursuing new hobbies? Surrounding yourself with innovative talent is an important step towards building a successful and dynamic organization. Identifying strategic thinkers is a crucial part of that process.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  ***************************************</div> <div>  </div> <div> One of our team of eight senior partners, Allen Robinson is our marketing/strategy specialist; an undergraduate degree in Finance from Auburn, an MBA from the University of Georgia, five years of strategy consulting experience with Kurt Salmon Associates, and recent executive level experience with a technology start-up company and a marketing & communications firm.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Atlanta Office:  404-992-5385 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" > or  </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#800080" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><A HREF="mailto:tar@ansleygroup.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:tar@ansleygroup.com"><U><U>tar@ansleygroup.com</U></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ansley Consulting Group"><U><U>The Ansley Consulting Group</U></U></A></div> <div> --Delivering Value Well Beyond Executive Search--</div> <div> <B>Atlanta - Chicago - Dallas - Memphis - New York</B></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>