Talent versus Hard Work: Which is better?

02 Feb

Managers, recruiters, and human resource professionals the world over debate whether natural talent or hard work is more desirable in a candidate.  While a balanced mix of both attributes would be ideal, most prospective personnel have a noteworthy abundance of either an incredible work ethic or innate ability.  When it comes down to selecting someone, which trait is better?

Innate Bias?
If you’ve been paying attention around the water cooler, hard work would seem to be the winner.  While those with talent are admired, those who are ambitious and motivated receive the most praise.

A recent article in The Economist tackled this topic head on, reporting on a soon-to-be-published paper by the University College London’s Chia-Jung Tsay.  In Tsay’s study, she tested investors on whether they preferred to back fictional entrepreneurs having various attributes—including whether these faux folks were hard working ‘strivers’ or talented ‘naturals’.  These investors professed having a preference for ‘strivers’ during the study.

After analysis, Tsay found that these very same investors tended to favour the “naturals” instead.  Of the fictional entrepreneurs, those with supposed “natural” ability needed less experience, fewer management skills, fewer IQ points, and less accrued capital to get funded.  This could be chalked up to an unconscious bias for individuals who display innate talent—especially as this isn’t a one-time finding.  The same article referenced a 2012 Harvard Business School study by Michael Norton.  It found recruiters preferred potential, choosing unproven individuals who may have success in their future over those who demonstrated success in the past.

Working Up to Talent
A 2011 Psychology Today article brilliantly rounded up much of the intellectual musings on the talent versus hard work argument.  To sum up it up, the author, Piers Steel Ph.D., found hard work can perform better than innate talent.

For some disciplines, such as sciences, it would seem natural ability would be incredibly beneficial over any amount of effort.  However, even in these disciplines, after a certain point, a higher level of aptitude provides no substantial greater advantage.  IQ points were cited as an example—it seems that once genius level is reached, there is no substantial gain for having a few additional points over the genius next door.

Overall, however, individuals who truly strive are able to cultivate a high level of aptitude, often equal to or even greater than the abilities of those with natural talents. Of course, it should be noted that if an incredibly talented person puts in low levels of effort, a hard worker’s output in quality and quantity would be superior.

It’s important to note that those with dedication have a good chance of speeding by those relying on natural ability.  That want and drive ‘strivers’ have can keep them competitive for much longer than those with innate ability, who simply may not have the dedication to stay focused and put in continued effort and care.  To reference Tsay and the write up in The Economist again, there was a beautiful analogy in the piece referencing two great soccer players, Kevin Keegan and George Best.  The two were contemporaries, and while Best was blessed with ample athletic ability; Keegan was the hard worker.  Best’s exciting career ended early as he was distracted from the sport and squandered both his skills and his money, while Keegan went on to have a robust soccer career.

The Striver in All of Us
Tsay’s study suggested those with natural talent seemed to be seen as more adaptable.  Their lack of rigorous training and experience may make them ready to roll with the punches, more accepting and flexible for an uncertain future.  What would follow then seems to be the idea that those who have put in the hard work, built ample experience, and have been dedicated have put so much into what they’ve striven for, changing tracks could be incredibly difficult.

The hard working ‘striver’ is someone we all identify with.  Extraordinary talent is not something we all possess, but we all have the aptitude to try.  The Economist piece points out that achievement through determination is a “recurring cultural meme,” mentioning the Protestant work ethic and American dream.  It seems that all of us, at one point or another, were told we could do and be almost anything if we simply put our mind to it.  We romanticize the fact that we can achieve anything by working hard irrespective of our level of talent.