How Leaders Can Uncover Hidden Talent in Their Organizations

The Search for Talent

C-suite executives often lament a lack of expertise in critical areas like AI, believing it doesn’t exist within their teams. For example, one executive recently told her team that her kids had been using AI for years, unaware that their IT department was already leveraging AI tools. In fact, an IT team member had delivered two presentations on integrating AI into the workplace. This untapped talent could have driven innovation and provided a growth opportunity for the individual. Don’t overlook the expertise already thriving in your organization—find it, nurture it, and watch your company soar.

Over the years of working with organizations, I’ve seen this scenario play out repeatedly. The good news? You can uncover hidden talent with these five practical strategies:

5 Tips for Leaders to Uncover Hidden Talent in Your Organization

Unleashing the potential of your workforce starts with discovering the expertise already thriving within your teams. Here are five practical strategies to identify and nurture hidden talent in your organization:

• Conduct Skills Audits with Open-Ended Questions

  Use surveys or one-on-one conversations to ask employees about their skills, side projects, or tools they’ve explored outside their job descriptions. For example, an IT employee might reveal proficiency in AI tools, as in the case of an executive who overlooked her team’s expertise. Keep questions open-ended to uncover unexpected capabilities.

  
  

• Foster Cross-Departmental Knowledge Sharing

  Create forums like lunch-and-learns or internal webinars where employees can share their expertise. Encourage presentations on emerging topics like AI or data analytics. This could have surfaced the IT team member’s AI presentations earlier, benefiting the entire organization.

  
  

• Leverage Internal Networks and Mentorship Programs

  Encourage managers to identify and nominate employees with unique skills for mentorship or special projects. Peer recommendations often reveal hidden gems, such as the IT staffer who was already using AI tools but went unnoticed by the C-suite.

  
  

• Encourage a Culture of Experimentation

  Create safe spaces for employees to showcase side projects or innovative ideas, such as hackathons or “innovation days.” This empowers employees to reveal skills they might not use in their daily roles, like the IT professional who has explored AI integration.

  
  

• Review Past Contributions and Feedback

  Dig into performance reviews, project outcomes, or employee recognition programs to spot overlooked talent. The IT employee’s prior AI presentations could have been flagged as a valuable resource if leadership had reviewed internal records more thoroughly.

By proactively seeking out hidden talent, you can unlock innovation, boost engagement, and save resources—while giving employees opportunities to shine.