LearnHub getAbstract
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
Buy the book

Read, Listen, or Discuss

Amazon Kindle  Discuss
  • 0.5×
  • 0.75×
  • 1×
  • 1.25×
  • 1.5×
  • 1.75×
1×

Editorial Rating

7

getAbstract Rating

  • 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.

Comment on this summary

More on this topic

Learners who read this summary also read

The Talent Powered Organization
Book

Peter Cheese et al.

The Talent Powered Organization

Strategies for Globalization, Talent Management and High Performance
Misplaced Talent
Book

Joe Ungemah

Misplaced Talent

A Guide to Better People Decisions
Unquittable
Book

Jim Bitterle

Unquittable

Finding & Keeping the Talent You Need
The Truth about Talent
Book

Jeremy Kourdi and Jacqueline Davies

The Truth about Talent

A guide to building a dynamic workforce, realizing potential, and helping leaders succeed
Fearless Talent Choices
Book

David C. Forman

Fearless Talent Choices

That Can Make or Break Your Business
The Talent Solution
Book

Edward L. Gubman

The Talent Solution

Aligning Strategy and People to Achieve Extraordinary Results

    Related Skills

    Advance Your Career
    AI Transformation
    Become More Adaptable
    Career
    Communicate Effectively
    Digital Transformation
    Drive AI Transformation
    Enable Digital Organization
    Innovation
    Lead Ethically
    Lead Strategically
    Leverage AI for Leadership
    Live Well
    Manage Change
    Manage Performance
    Manage Remuneration
    Manage Teams and Departments
    Management
    Master Collaboration
    Plan Your Career
    Promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    Strengthen Team Collaboration
    Understand AI
    Understand Innovation
    Workplace Skills
    Develop Your Thinking Skills
    Engage in Job Crafting
    Plan AI Workforce Transformation
    Use AI for Skills Matching
    Implement Executive Coaching
    Use AI for Talent Sourcing
    Understand AI Impact on Work
    Enhance Employee Experience
    Leverage AI for HR
    Practice Transformational Leadership
    Reskill and Upskill Employees
    Develop the Organization
    Drive Organizational Performance
    Understand Human Resources Economics
    Cultivate a Growth Mindset
    Cultivate Curiosity
    Retain Employees
    Understand Motivation
    Manage Learning and Development
    Define Core Values
    Leverage Employee Resource Groups
    Take Other Perspectives
    Understand Organizational Behavior
    Facilitate Discussions
    Find Meaning
    Support Internal Mobility
    Show Empathy and Compassion
    Design Incentive Structures
    Understand Personality Types
    Ensure Accountability in Teams
    Increase Your Cultural Awareness
    Drive Team Performance
    Foster a Culture of Innovation
    Understand Organizational Change
    Use AI for Learning & Development
    Identify Your Development Needs
    Understand Communication
    Finalize Hiring Decisions
    Navigate Workplace Culture
    Develop Leaders
    Evaluate Employees
    Develop Self-Mastery
    Promote Neuro-Inclusion
    Build an Inclusive Culture
    Improve Team Performance
    Understand Team Dynamics
    Understand Unconscious Bias
    Conduct Candidate Interviews
    Identify Your Strengths
    Master Interpersonal Skills
    Promote Customer Centricity
    Drive Employee Engagement
    Understand Organizations
    Assess Your Skillset
    Dare to be Vulnerable
    Optimize Workforce Performance
    Be Emotionally Intelligent
    Mitigate Cognitive Biases
    Attract and Recruit Talent
    Create a Hiring Strategy
    Coach People
    Navigate Office Politics
    Evaluate Candidates
    Motivate Your Team
    Human Resources
    Personal Growth
    Promote a Learning Culture
    Conduct Employee Surveys
    Understand Social Behavior
    Manage Your Emotions
    Recruit Diverse Talent
    Build and Maintain Well-Being
    Build Digital Culture
    Practice Humility
    Be Coachable
    Use AI for Coaching and Development
    Foster Team Culture
    Build Psychological Safety
    Soft Skills
    Develop Team Members
    Foster Ownership in Others
    Leverage AI for Management
    Manage Employee Relations
    Understand Emotions
    Leadership
    Understand Cognition
    Executive Leadership
    Identify Skills Gaps
    Understand Human Behavior
    Onboard New Hires
    Succeed in a New Job
    Build Your Employer Brand
    Manage People and Talent
    Practice Servant Leadership
    Shape Organizational Culture
    Use AI for Workforce Planning
    Lead Yourself
    Manage Your Leadership Impact
    Understand Yourself
    Develop Self-Awareness
    Understand Organizational Culture
    Manage Talent
    Support Team Members’ Careers
    Implement Coaching Programs
    Mentor Employees
    Place Talent Strategically