Talent Unleashed: 3 Leadership Conversations to Ignite the Unlimited Potential in People

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A leader's job is to unleash the unlimited store of potential in people.

"The vast majority of the workforce in any organization possesses far more talent, intelligence, capability, and creativity than their present jobs require or even allow." - Dr. Stephen R. Covey

That's what Talent Unleashed is about--unleashing that unlimited store of potential in people. That's a leader's job.

And how does a leader do that job? Through 3 Leadership Conversations--not just individual events, but ongoing discussions designed to help people give the best they can. In these conversations, leaders trade fear for trust, confusion for clarity, and micromanaging for empowerment.

The three vital leadership conversations are:
- The Performance Conversation
- The Voice Conversation
- The Clearing the Path Conversation

Performance Conversations define roles and set clear goals. Leaders hold people accountable for these roles and goals, thus transforming team members from "managed hirelings" to "trusted partners and teammates."

Voice Conversations affirm the worth and potential of each person on a team. Leaders help individuals discover their unique gifts, talents, and abilities and align these gifts, talents, and abilities to the great mission of the organization. It is the process that ignites the inner fire.

Clear the Path Conversations turn supervisors into leaders who become sources of help and empower people to succeed in their jobs. Leaders help clear away the obstacles from the success pathway.

Shawn D. Moon
Shawn D. Moon has over three decades of experience in leadership and management, sales and marketing, program development, and consulting services. His deep knowledge and robust experience inspire others to become leaders through personal effectiveness and execution. In his role as executive vice president at FranklinCovey, Moon is responsible for the company’s leadership solutions and strategic accounts, as well as the Sales Performance Practice and Customer Loyalty Practice.

Todd Davis
Over the past three decades, Todd Davis has practiced and refined his skills and knowledge of human resources, talent development, executive recruiting, sales, and marketing. Having been with FranklinCovey for more than 20 years, he currently serves as executive vice president and chief people officer. As a member of FranklinCovey’s executive team, Davis is responsible for FranklinCovey’s global talent development, which includes more than 40 offices in 160 countries.

Michael Simpson
For 30 years, Michael Simpson has been an internationally sought after executive coach, leadership consultant, and keynote speaker. His practical, business experience is in teaching, advising, and coaching many of the world’s top business leaders and teams. He has coached and consulted with leaders in over 35 countries in leadership development, strategic planning, goal execution, building high performance-based teams, and high trust organizational cultures.

A. Roger Merrill
Roger Merrill has more than 50 years of experience as a line manager, senior executive, executive coach, consultant and teacher, as well as being one of the co-founders of Covey Leadership Center (now Franklin Covey Co.). Merrill now specializes in coaching senior leaders and helping organizations improve performance and develop leaders. He is the co-author (with Stephen R. Covey and Rebecca R. Merrill) of international bestseller, First Things First.