Looking for talent? Look inside your own organization
March 2025 - The current labor market is making ever higher and more specific demands on talent, while available candidates are becoming scarcer. Too often, organizations look for talent outside their own walls, while the “white ravens” are already present within the organization. You just have to discover them.
Undiscovered, untapped and undeveloped skills
Many employees possess hidden talents that are not readily apparent. These are the undiscovered skills: talents that employees already possess, but never manifest in their current positions. Consider a warehouse employee who has taken a data analysis course in his spare time. Such hidden skills can prove valuable when recognized and utilized.
Besides undiscovered skills, there are also untapped skills. These are competencies that are known but not optimally utilized. For example, a junior analyst with excellent communication skills may have only a limited role within customer contacts. By deploying these talents more broadly, organizations can increase their internal potential and stimulate innovation. Restructuring tasks and responsibilities can create new opportunities for both the employee and the organization.
Then, there are the undeveloped skills. These are talents with growth potential that have not yet been fully utilized because employees have not had sufficient opportunity to develop them. For example, a technology start-up may discover that some junior developers are interested in project management. With targeted training and mentoring, these employees can advance to leadership positions, strengthening the organization and fostering a culture of continuous development.
Benefits of an internal talent strategy
By shifting the focus from external recruitment to developing internal talent, companies enjoy several benefits. Flexible workforce planning becomes possible by assigning employees based on their skills rather than a fixed job title. This not only increases the organization's agility, but also encourages employee engagement and satisfaction. In addition, investing in internal development often reduces recruitment costs and decreases employee turnover, which can result in significant savings in the long run.
Where to start?
For business owners, it is crucial to start with a thorough analysis of the skills available within the organization. Identify which talents are already present, but not yet utilized, and develop a plan to unlock them. Start training employees, create opportunities for internal mobility and encourage a culture of continuous learning. With this basic approach, you will lay the foundation for creating your own white ravens and prepare the organization for sustainable growth and innovation.
