Three Talent Vectors

A framework for understanding the three key types of talent in organizations and how they work together to create successful teams.

The Three Vectors of Talent

• Creatives (The Starters)

  • Generate ideas at high velocity ("180 ideas an hour")
  • Initiate new projects and concepts
  • Focus on starting things
  • Often at odds with completers due to different priorities

• Completers (The Executors)

  • Make lists of what needs to be done
  • Focus on shipping and completing projects
  • Ensure tasks get finished
  • Can clash with creatives over prioritizing completion vs innovation

• Collaborators (The Connectors)

  • Bridge gaps between departments and individuals
  • Excel at communication
  • Pull different elements together
  • Help resolve tensions between creatives and completers

Optimal Talent Distribution

• People typically excel in one primary area
• Should be a "9 or 10" in at least one dimension
• Need to be "7 or 8" in another dimension
• Usually very low in the third dimension
• Balance between vectors creates successful teams

Application

• Used to evaluate and build effective teams
• Helps understand natural tensions between different types
• Allows for better role assignment based on strengths
• Creates awareness of needed balance in organizations
• Recognizes that conflict between types can be productive when managed well