University of Minnesota - UMN Executive Leadership Insights
The Science of Dream Teams
Book

The Science of Dream Teams

How Talent Optimization Can Drive Engagement, Productivity, and Happiness

Mike Zani
McGraw-Hill, 2021
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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • For Beginners
  • Insider's Take

Recommendation

Modern talent management calls for up-to-date analysis and assessment. In this practical book, Mike Zani argues in favor of scientific, evidence-based talent optimization via psychometric assessments – which his firm markets and sells. But Zani promotes a range of assessments, not just his own. He also offers solid advice about modern talent management, including insights into how data, technologies and AI can help your company make better people decisions and interventions. Zani’s guidance will benefit those new to leadership and HR, in particular.

Summary

Leaders cannot afford to treat workers as replaceable cogs in a machine.

Workers represent most organizations’ largest expense. Your workforce also contributes more than any other factor to your company’s success. Workers bring a complex mix of personalities, potential, skills, cognitive abilities, aspirations and traits to their organizations: One-size-fits-all talent management doesn’t work.

As disciplines from advertising to logistics embraced hyper-individualization, leaders and managers must, likewise, focus on each worker. Guide your talent optimization actions by getting to know your employees. The roles and jobs employees fill often prove as varied as the workforce itself. Putting the right worker, in the right role, at the right time constitutes talent optimization. 

Behavioral assessments sort workers into categories – for example, flexible versus stable, or internally versus externally-focused. These tools shed light on employees’ personalities, including whether a worker tilts toward innovation and creativity or structure and results. They can also show whether a person thrives...

About the Author

A former world-class sailor and coach, Mike Zani is CEO of The Predictive Index, a Boston area psychometric assessment technology and consulting firm.

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