I Am More Than Just My Skills: Why Whole-Person Insights Matter in Talent Management

Business is moving very fast, and the pace of change is accelerating. Companies are rapidly adopting a skills-based approach to better meet current and future challenges, as it promises greater agility, efficiency, and a streamlined process for matching people to work.  

However, while skills are an essential part of who we are and what we bring to the table, they represent just one facet of our broader identity. Focusing solely on skills risks missing the mark by oversimplifying the rich, complex nature of human potential.  

The heartfelt plea of your employees needs to be considered: I am more than just my skills! Organizations that recognize this whole-person perspective will not only match people to the right jobs but also cultivate an environment of deeper engagement, fulfillment, and long-term success.  

Skills are undoubtedly vital to success. They are specific capabilities that enable us to execute tasks efficiently and effectively. However, the temptation to limit one’s identity to merely a set of skills can lead to several unintended negative consequences:

• Pigeonholing and missed potential: Skills capture only one part of a person’s story.  Without considering one’s motivations and aspirations, employees may pursue unfulfilling experiences or seek opportunities elsewhere.

• Lack of engagement: Viewing employees solely as a set of skills strips away the opportunity to connect with deeper motivations. People want to be seen, valued, and understood, not just for what they do but for who they are at their core. Ignoring the whole-person view can lead to cynicism and disengagement, leaving people feeling more like units of production rather than valued contributors to the organization’s mission. ‍‍

• Increased churn: While a skills-based approach streamlines hiring, it can lead to higher turnover if employees’ roles, values, and needs aren’t taken into account, leaving them searching for fulfillment elsewhere.  

To strengthen a skills-focused talent management approach, companies should adopt a whole-person approach, adding depth to talent planning and fostering a more comprehensive understanding of each employee.  Supplementing functional skills would include several factors:

• Roles: Skills are not deployed in a vacuum. The roles that one must perform while demonstrating their unique abilities could cause growth or stagnation, depending on their personal preferences. Consider how each candidate will interact with their peers, leaders, customers, and external stakeholders to ensure alignment with what is most satisfying and energizing for them.

• Needs: Employees’ needs drive the actions they take and the energy they derive from their work. A person’s needs evolve with their life situation; asking people with desirable skills to take on new challenges could conflict with their most-pressing needs or be exactly what they have been seeking.  

• Values: A person’s foundational beliefs about themselves and their work determine how connected they feel to the organization’s mission. Skills exist within the context of personal meaning and the expectations of what the company is asking an employee to get done.  

When organizations add these additional factors to a skills-based approach, good things will happen. Understanding and appreciating the full range of what makes a person tick fosters employee engagement, retention, and loyalty. It enables growth and ongoing development, as people feel supported and nurtured to realize their full potential as human beings.  

Ultimately, when individuals are given the opportunity to do work that aligns with their strengths and aspirations, they are more likely to remain committed and enthusiastic about their work and less likely to feel like they need to go elsewhere to feel fulfilled.  

With tru®, participants uncover their unique Achievement DNA—the roles, values, needs, and skills that fuel their energy and satisfaction. They gain Environment Insights to support or enhance their truSelf expression, creating the foundation for My Path Forward—a growth plan that is employee-owned and manager-supported.

The future of work goes beyond skill-matching. By connecting people to meaningful work aligned with their strengths and aspirations, organizations foster agile, adaptive, and inclusive teams ready to thrive in an evolving world. Embracing whole-person thinking will redefine how companies understand employees and unlock their full potential.