ATD, association for talent development

TD Magazine Article

Member Benefit

Do What You Love

Content

Engagement, energy, and dedication rise when employees use their talents.

Engagement, energy, and dedication rise when employees use their talents.

By

Thu Mar 01 2018

Loading...
Do What You Love-2018-March-TD-at-Work-Cover.jpg

Content

Engagement, energy, and dedication rise when employees use their talents.

Engagement, energy, and dedication rise when employees use their talents.

Content

"Strengths-based HPI \[human performance improvement\] focuses on how managers and employees can help answer the question, ‘What are you good at?'" That's according to Hawley Kane, the author of the March 2018 issue of TD at Work, "Strengths-Based HPI: A Win-Win for All."

"Strengths-based HPI \[human performance improvement\] focuses on how managers and employees can help answer the question, ‘What are you good at?'" That's according to Hawley Kane, the author of the March 2018 issue of TD at Work, "Strengths-Based HPI: A Win-Win for All."

Content

Kane provides tips on how managers and their direct reports can work together to determine those skills and favored tasks, noting that—while focusing on strengths, since that increases employee engagement and productivity—we should by no means ignore our weaknesses.

Kane provides tips on how managers and their direct reports can work together to determine those skills and favored tasks, noting that—while focusing on strengths, since that increases employee engagement and productivity—we should by no means ignore our weaknesses.

Content

Key to finding our strengths includes conversation—more specifically, questions. Managers can start by asking their employees what motivates them. Additional questions include:

Key to finding our strengths includes conversation—more specifically, questions. Managers can start by asking their employees what motivates them. Additional questions include:

  • Content

    What work activities energize and refresh them?

    What work activities energize and refresh them?

  • Content

    What types of work have brought them positive recognition in the past?

    What types of work have brought them positive recognition in the past?

  • Content

    What work assignments do they enjoy the most?

    What work assignments do they enjoy the most?

  • Content

    What are their highest priorities for life, and how does work in your organization fit in with those priorities?

    What are their highest priorities for life, and how does work in your organization fit in with those priorities?

    Content

    While communication is critical, another avenue that managers can use to help ascertain their employees' strengths is observation. A person's assets become obvious when you look for them.

    While communication is critical, another avenue that managers can use to help ascertain their employees' strengths is observation. A person's assets become obvious when you look for them.

    Content

    As a talent development professional, you can work to bring managers together so that they can share best practices in discovering their employees' strengths. You also can encourage managers to share tips on social platforms such as Yammer or the company's intranet.

    As a talent development professional, you can work to bring managers together so that they can share best practices in discovering their employees' strengths. You also can encourage managers to share tips on social platforms such as Yammer or the company's intranet.

    Content

    These tips were adapted from the March 2018 issue of TD at Work. Learn more at www.td.org/TDatWork .

    These tips were adapted from the March 2018 issue of TD at Work. Learn more at www.td.org/TDatWork.

You've Reached ATD Member-only Content

Become an ATD member to continue

Already a member?Sign In

issue

ISSUE

March 2018 - TD Magazine

View Articles

Copyright © 2026 ATD

ASTD changed its name to ATD to meet the growing needs of a dynamic, global profession.

Terms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie Policy