Rethinking Talent Decisions: UOW academic presents new book for business leaders

By Dr Sharna Wiblen of the University of Wollongong's School of Business

Harnessing and optimising talent has never been more critical.  As leaders and managers strive to navigate the complexities of talent management, the principles outlined in my groundbreaking book, Rethinking Talent Decisions, offer a beacon of light.  By focusing on decision-making, I delve into how understanding Y.O.U. — Your Own Understanding – enables us to update our internal decision-making (human) software and generate exponential returns by recognising the power of every decision.

Better decisions start with Y.O.U. - Your Own Understanding

While the book focuses on talent and work-based decisions, I present many essential insights for all decisions.  I argue that making better decisions begins with a deep, introspective look at oneself because all decisions start with a thought.  The quality of our thoughts fundamentally shapes the quality of our decisions.  By understanding our lenses, assumptions and perceptions of values, we gain knowledge about the strengths and weaknesses of our internal decision-making software.  Developing an awareness of Y.O.U. – Your Own Understanding – enables us to update our internal human software and improve decision-making.

The Power of Individual Decisions

My book posits that accumulating deliberate, intentional, and informed decisions can unleash exponential returns.  This approach underscores the idea that every decision, no matter how seemingly inconsequential, has the potential for substantial impact.

It's a call to action for decision-makers to recognise the value in incrementally improving their decisions and fully appreciate that these decisions' collective effect can fundamentally transform an individual, a team, a function and an organisation.

I emphasise the integral relationship between the quality of our thinking and the outcomes of our decisions: "I want to help you think about your thinking because the quality of our thinking influences the quality of our decisions and the quality of our decisions influences the quality and outcomes of our actions.  We can improve the quality of our every day by improving the quality of our decisions"​​.

Each decision, no matter how small, has the potential to contribute to significant returns in terms of talent optimisation and organisational effectiveness.  By making one deliberate decision at a time, leaders can transform their talent management approach into a strategic asset.  The power of improving human decision-making remains profound even within technological innovations because creativity and ethical considerations remain at the forefront of daily interactions and strategic initiatives, whether enabled by technology or not.

Improving decisions to generate exponential growth

The concept of harnessing exponential returns from each decision is powerful and empowering.

As I write in the book: "We can harness the power of exponential returns one decision at a time...Within us lies the extraordinary ability to initiate a chain reaction of transformative mindsets and approaches where each decision becomes a strategic 'investment' with the potential for exponential growth"​​.

This perspective shifts the focus from sweeping change initiatives to the cumulative power of individual decisions, highlighting the strategic value of each decision we make.  This approach not only elevates the individual's role in shaping the organisational trajectory but also underscores the collective impact of these decisions on achieving broader strategic goals.

Rethinking Talent Decisions is more than just a book; it's a roadmap for leaders seeking to navigate the complexities of the modern business environment.  Leaders can drive their organisations towards growth and success by focusing on the quality of individual decisions, recognising the power of incremental change, and embracing the complexity of talent management.

In a world where the pace of change is relentless, making deliberate, intentional, and informed decisions is invaluable.  My work reminds us of the power of individual decisions and that the potential for exponential returns lies in our capacity to rethink and refine our decision-making processes – one decision at a time.

About the writer

Dr Sharna Wiblen, PhD, is a multifaceted professional with extensive experience bridging academia and industry. As an author, award-winning executive educator, and academic, she specialises in talent management, digitalisation, organisational effectiveness, and the future of work.

Rethinking Talent Decisions is available via DeGruyter, Amazon and other good book stores.  Learn more about Dr Sharna Wiblen via UOW Scholars or her website.