Talent Based Branching
The new way to find the right fit for your career.
Hey friend
Welcome to 200 Word Tuesdays. Where we give you short, actionable ideas to implement in your project management. We promise that you haven’t heard these powerful ideas anywhere else. Let’s get started.
The US Army had a problem with retention. Officers were leaving faster than they could replace them. So they developed a system to retain them.
Talent-Based Branching (TBB).
This system aimed to match the talents and aspirations of newly commissioned officers with the specific needs of its various branches. Now this seems like common sense. But unlike traditional methods that relied heavily on cognitive tests, TBB introduced a more interactive and personalised approach. It focuses on the in-depth exploration of the traits necessary to succeed and gives feedback on the emotional and intellectual strengths of each cadet. An approach that we can use in our own project management teams.
How does this apply to project management?
As project managers, we often focus on technical expertise, but TBB teaches us to take a more holistic view of our team members. To see them more as a person. To maximise performance, consider these steps:
Assess Emotional & Behavioural Styles: Alongside technical skills, evaluate how team members handle stress, communicate, and collaborate. This provides insight into their work style and preferred environment.
Personalised Role Assignments: Don’t just assign tasks based on technical ability. Align roles with team members’ strengths and preferences. This boosts engagement and productivity.
Encourage Dialogue: Create opportunities for team members to express their career aspirations and preferred work styles. Have regular open discussions and get feedback to better match individuals with roles where they will thrive.
Aim to put the right leader in the right career.
The takeaway for us is that we need to include a broader view of pour team than just what technical skills they have. Consider their emotional and behavioural styles too.
Keep this in mind the next time you assign work or perform on-the-job training.
See you next week,
Jonathan (The Effective Project Manager)
P.S.
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