Motivation and talent predict success in every human endeavor. It does not matter if you are in business or on the field as a professional athlete, your potential for success is ultimately determined by a combination of your motivation to succeed and your talent.

There are four potential classifications:

There are four potential classifications:

• talented and motivated
• talented and unmotivated
• untalented and motivated
• untalented and unmotivated

Although “good fortune” or “luck” can contribute to success, the predictable determining factors are motivation and talent.

When setting out to promote or hire someone, it is beneficial to consider their motivation and talent. Is he or she motivated by a desire to achieve, to exercise power, or to affiliate with others? Does his pattern of motivation predict success in a particular role? Does she have the experience, training, and talent to do the job? Is he manageable and does he have the ability to manage others?

Answering these questions is critical to making successful human resource decisions. It is easy to make the mistake of only exploring a candidate’s experience and training. Not scrutinizing the candidate’s motivation and ability to interact with others in a business environment, to the same degree, can lead to poor decisions with the direct and indirect costs associated with any poor business decision.

In addition, when setting out to guide a promising employee’s development, it is helpful to know his or her pattern of motivation. Is his primary motivation to direct or influence others, to achieve, or to be liked by others? Is her pattern of motivation workable–can it be modified to enhance the her effectiveness in the work setting? Knowing an employee’s pattern of motivation can help direct his individual development as well as serve as a basis for assessing progress.

Getting a clear picture of a candidate’s motivation and talent can help with any human resource decision.