Talent Selection: The NFL Draft
How do we know we are making the right decision?
Trigger Movement writes an article a day this week to dig into the NFL Draft, and what other sports, business, athletes and coaches can learn from it…
What is the biggest thing we look at when selecting talent or making a decision on a person?
This week, 32 NFL teams are selecting a number of players from the ‘Draft’ to become a part of their franchise. Teams have between 5 picks (Atlanta Falcons and the Los Angeles Rams) and 12 picks (San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns) to bolster their rosters and create immediate and lasting success. This is not unlike an organisation choosing it’s next employee, or any other sports coach picking their team, the major difference is the level of money involved.
So, what is it they are looking for? What makes the difference between one player and another? Is it:
DNA or ‘natural talent’?
Willingness to learn, and the speed they learn (i.e. a growth mindset)?
Their role, position or fit?
Their character, personality, or ‘intangibles’?
Their previous performance?
The context is incredibly important. For example, when is the decision taking place, in terms of the persons’ development?
Is it a 15 year-old athlete who has taken up the sport 12 months ago? Is it a 19 year-old who has been physically dominant since they were 12, has always been a “star” and is now starting to struggle?
What about in business? How does your talent pipeline select future leaders? Is it someone who simply gets results, and doesn’t care what impact they have on others? Or do you pick someone who doesn’t ask tough questions but won’t create any conflict? What are their personal ambitions, do they match the organisations? Or the team they’ll be in?
Like nearly everything — there is not one answer, that would be far too easy.
However, if your organisation, sports or otherwise is clear on your vision, your values (or in other words the behaviour it expects) and your culture, then your decision making should be a lot easier — because you will be able to spot the best fit if you are observing their behaviour and asking the right questions.
Do you need performance right now, no matter the cost?
Or is it more important to select someone who is passionate, who will learn, will adapt, will think independently, will hustle, will evaluate risks and will contribute long-term to your success?
For serious athletes, it is critical to understand how decisions are made above you and for you to find the right fit with your coach and your team.
For organisations, you must understand the culture you have, and the culture you want to create in order to be able to identify the people that will fit the best and will contribute the most.
The NFL draft will reveal this week, what these 32 organisations are focused on, what they value as important in their people, and whether they believe more in developing a long-term culture, or are focussed upon short-term victories.
