Recognizing Cultural Cowboys™ in your Team
In my last post, I detailed the essence of a Cultural Cowboy™ and underscored why your company can't afford to overlook them. These are the trailblazers who thrive beyond conventional boundaries, seizing every opportunity and fearlessly tackling intricate challenges. Engage them, and you'll experience firsthand their unwavering resolve. Now, let me lead you through the process of pinpointing these exceptional individuals within your organization.
Spotting Cultural Cowboys™
Whether sourcing talent internally or externally, keep an eye out for three key traits:
1. Mavericks
A dear colleague once quipped, “Let’s face it, Jean. We’re mavericks, or mustangs.” Mavericks, as I call them, possess a unique perspective that deviates from the norm. They see opportunities where others see obstacles. For instance, my friend Bryan at Kimberly-Clark transformed mundane paper product sales into a dynamic, technology-driven service. Mavericks see the world differently and act on those insights.
2. Woven Careers
Drawing from Dorothy Leonard-Barton's T-shaped skills concept, Cultural Cowboys™ take it further with what I term Helix Skills. They excel in multiple domains and seamlessly weave them together. Take Todd, for instance, with his background in pharmacy, management, and engineering. Such individuals possess a rare ability to navigate complex challenges with ease, bridging gaps others may not even see.
3. Diamonds in the Rough
Diamonds in the Rough, unlike Mavericks, may not initially shine brightly, but their value becomes apparent over time. These individuals, like Vinny in a recent project, may lack polish but make up for it with raw talent and honesty. Vinny, for example, brought invaluable insights into customer dynamics and internal processes. Recognizing and nurturing such talents is key to unlocking their full potential.
What's Next?
Now that you've identified potential Cultural Cowboys™, the question arises: How do you leverage, retain, develop, and reward them? Stay tuned for future blogs where I'll delve deeper into each of these concepts.
