Talent Rehab: Frozen Talents
Aug 28, 2024By Karey Robinson
In 2019, I was enjoying my job at Starbucks as a barista and regional barista trainer. My job incorporated all of my top five talents and was just plain fun. But the physical demands of the job were beginning to get to me as well as the unpredictable schedule, so I began to look at other job opportunities.
A good friend who had worked with me at Starbucks recruited me to join her working as a bank teller. When Bert and I processed what we perceived as the duties of the job in light of my top 5 talents, it sounded like a good fit, but with higher pay and a banker’s schedule, so I gave it a try.
With Developer as my number one talent, I loved the company’s training program and from day one was wondering if I could become a trainer in the future. Over the ensuing months I found that the customers were not really interested in talking to the tellers about anything beyond their bank balance and what they were doing that weekend. And even though one new teller had been hired while I’d been there, there was no thought to having me involved in her training.
You may have already guessed that my Developer talent went from engaged and flowing at Starbucks to frustrated and frozen at the bank. And I was miserable.
I remember one of the lead tellers, after applying for a promotion more than once and not getting it, said out loud “Why can’t I get promoted?” Silly me, I thought he was seeking advice, and I happily gave it. “You know, if you would follow the procedures regarding check cashing and identification fully, and stop looking at your cell phone while you are working, that might go a long way to the company taking you more seriously.” He shrugged and went back to scrolling on his phone. My Developer talent plunged even deeper into the icy waters.
As a Passionato, it was nearly impossible for me to drag myself to a job that I wasn’t passionate about, especially since one of my talents, and my number one talent at that, had almost no opportunities on the job.
This month we’re giving you the second half of the Talent Rehab tool, the one that helps you process a Frozen or Frustrated talent. My Developer talent was dying of neglect, and I knew I needed to find ways either within my job or at home to get back to developing people.
Download the free worksheet to see my example of how I processed my Frozen Developer talent. The second sheet will be a fillable pdf for you to process any frosty talents in your Top 5. Let’s get those talents warmed up.