Fortune journalist Geoff Colvin takes on a question many of us have wondered about: are top performers born different? His answer draws on the research on deliberate practice and on stories from business, which makes the book especially easy for managers to use.
The chapters on how organizations can build practice into everyday work are the ones we come back to most. They show how a regular meeting or a client call can become a chance to get better.
Talent Takeaway
It reminds us that everyday work is full of chances to practice. Before your next important meeting, set one small goal, for example: ask more questions than usual. Afterward, take two minutes to check how it went. Colvin shows how small routines like this add up.
Our Take
A very readable guide to deliberate practice for business readers. It encourages all of us to see talent as something we can build.
Colvin, G. (2008). Talent is overrated: What really separates world-class performers from everybody else. Portfolio. Find it