One of the chapters in my book (with Rich Petro), Practical Lessons in Leadership, emphasizes the role of the leader as Chief Talent Scout and Developer.  A lesson that I learn frequently in my travels on business and in my consumer experiences is that some of the most talented potential employees can be found in the places that  you least expect to find them.  Of course, you have to have your talent scouting eyes wide open or it is easy to miss an opportunity.

  • The stylist that cuts my hair is the informal salon leader (absentee owner situation) that everyone looks to for direction and decision-making.  It turns out she is a leadership junkie, attending every seminar that fits her schedule, reading voraciously on the topic and applying what she learns in the salon.  She experiments with team-building, provides effective and timely feedback on performance and relays lessons learned from her mistakes. Instead of the trivial conversation most people engage in when getting their hair cut, we have spirited discussions about all things leadership.  Every time I walk out after a haircut, I shake my head and the leadership savvy that Melinda displays and I remind myself to hire or refer her at the first opportunity.  (She also lingers over my haircut, occasionally clipping at nothing…making me feel better about the fact that my hair volume no longer justifies her price.  I go for that and the leadership treat!)
  • Some of the worst consumer experiences in the world happen in cell phone stores.  Or so I thought, until I watched in amazement as a twenty-something floor associate simultaneously managed an irate customer–placating him by solving a problem, while answering machine questions thrown at him by the other, less experienced associates.  When it was my turn, this consummate customer-focused person stayed with my challenging account transfer issue during 2 days, working through big company bureaucracy to solve my problem.  I wrote his boss a letter and I made note of his name and contact information.  The next time I need an early career professional in a customer service capacity, he gets the call.
  • I frequent a particular home improvement store (small, not big box) because one gentleman that helps me is one of the best strategic planners I’ve ever met.  He listens patiently to my project description and then launches into a series of questions that has me completely rethink what I was trying to accomplish and how I was going to go about it.  He looks at the big picture of my project and then drills down to show me how to execute.  He even takes phone calls if I get stuck!  While he appears to be happy in semi-retirement, I think about his approach to my home improvement projects when I engage clients in their business improvement initiatives. I haven’t figured out how to hire him yet, but I will!

There is no rule that says that the talent that you surround yourself with has to come from the same mold or carry the same pedigree.  If you open your eyes to some of the great experiences that people create for you in some of the most mundane settings, you might just find the people you need to help propel your business into the future.  Happy Talent Scouting!