"Jian Jue - A Major Course for Supervisors"

Author: Long Zimin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: When I need a talent, even if it means losing my personal dignity to beg for them, I will not hesitate. I might even flatter them. — Napoleon
Talent wins the world, while losing talent loses the world. Whether in the ancient history of rivaling heroes or in the modern business war without gunfire, this timeless proposition is proven true. Politicians say: "Choosing the right people to handle affairs is the key to governing chaos." Military strategists say: "Victory or defeat in war depends on the general. Choosing a general cannot be taken lightly. Ignoring the talented, knowing them but not using them, or using them but not entrusting them, are three ominous signs for a nation."
Before employing people, the first step is to recognize them. To obtain talent, one must first learn to identify talent. Therefore, how to recognize virtuous and talented individuals in the vast world and the endless sea of people remains a crucial issue for modern people.
The hardest thing in the world is to identify talent. The Southern Song Dynasty Prime Minister Zhang Jun did not understand the art of recognizing talent but claimed to be good at it. He believed Qin Hui "was straightforward in his opinions and stern in appearance, unwilling to do wrong," even affirming that Qin Hui was a "talented person" who "was not afraid of death and could handle great affairs." Thus, he vigorously recommended him, leading to countless scandals. Conversely, Han Xin brought the four hundred-year Han Dynasty to Liu Bang, and Zhuge Liang helped Liu Bei, a man who sold mats and shoes, become a king.
Therefore, learning the methods of observing talent is highly beneficial, whether for public matters—appointing officials, distinguishing loyalty from treachery—or for private matters—finding teachers and friends, and protecting oneself from disaster.
Today, talent is equally important. For businesses, capital, technology, and management are all indispensable. Among these, people play the most core role in management, and technology is the most direct embodiment of talent. As for capital, with technology and management in place, who would worry about finding money? A person can either build an enterprise or destroy one.
The saying "It is easy to gather a thousand soldiers but hard to find a worthy general" has been true since ancient times. However, few leaders are truly capable of avoiding superficial processes and recognizing and utilizing talent effectively, leading to success in their careers. Here, the author attempts to integrate traditional Chinese wisdom in recognizing people to find a universally applicable method for identifying talent across the ages.