Can a Good Workman Succeed with Bad Tools? Exploring Talent vs. Tool in the Workplace

Many times we use this idiom, and many believe in it too, to judge people or to measure performances. In general, it is assumed that this excuse is given by a person when he doesn't want to admit that he is a 'bad workman.' But my view is somewhat different. I think this idiom does not hold a strong stand. What if Virat plays with a broken bat? Will he be able to score hundreds? Of course not!

Understanding the difference between Talent and Tool

A talented person can utilize his talent only if he is equipped with the correct and good 'tool.' A bad tool always limits the opportunity, and a good manager fails to achieve the given task. As an HR professional, we must try to differentiate between talent and tool. This differentiation will help us to segregate between a good manager and a bad manager.

Of course, a talented person could be inhibited by the poor tools, but talent shows up. The blame on defective tools as an excuse for poor performance has to be decried; that is the message of this idiom.

As an HR professional, when mapping performance, one should consider such poor tools/constraints. Furthermore, the benefit of the doubt should be given to "talent."

There's also a saying by Alexander the Great, "An army of sheep led by a lion is better than an army of lions led by a sheep." In your context, a manager can always blame his 'tools' (read: team) for poor performance. But a Great People Manager has the potential to create a team of lions out of a flock of sheep . You cannot always have lions working for you!

P.S. If you wish to know what a "Great People Manager" is, check this Great People Manager Study | Great Manager Institute™