Howard Gardener and Claudio Fernández-Aráoz offer profound perceptions of how the core qualities can be developed and balanced into the human mentality and also how can they be administered in a broader aspect to garner success. However, the elements of success in 21st century from Howard Gardener and Claudio Fernández-Aráoz are not exactly the same. In terms of being successful in the globalized world nowadays, they vary on unlike aspects which include the nature and application of essential skills and features.

Howard Gardener, a famous researcher in psychology who has been studying the functions of mind such as development, organization and creation. He suggests that in order to flourish and outshine in a globalized world, every person has to be concerned with how to establish those minds in the younger generation, those who could be taught to become the leaders or managers of tomorrow. Gardener also mentions five different minds that he believes human beings should develop in the future. The disciplined mind reminds us working stably over time to enhance skills and comprehension, the synthesizing mind collates information and presents it in a coherent way, the creating mind leads us to pull out new ideas and unexpected answers, the respectful mind greets the differences between individuals and finds to cooperate with each other effectively, and the ethical mind struggles to conceptualize proper work that people can do it unselfishly. In other words, these minds which are applied today will absolutely become a valuable property in the near future.

Moreover, Gardener indicates that our present education system is not sufficiently equipped for growing the five named mind structures because they offer us for the past as it doesn’t activate scientific ways of pragmatic thinking. Gardener implies that the five minds are an innovation in the world nowadays, but maturing them all in equal measure seems to be a challenge if the present system of education is not rearranged. Generally speaking, education in the widest sense has to help more human beings understand the most distinguishable characteristics of the outstanding representatives of our species. As a result, education is inherently and unavoidably a lesson of human targets and human values.

Unlike Howard Gardener, Claudio Fernández-Aráoz put more emphasis on the reasons why potential surpasses experience, and intelligence. Fernández-Aráoz describes that focusing on potential can enhance talent spotting at every level of the organization. He also takes an executive as an example. Although the executive has no experience in the consumer goods business, he still succeeded in his endeavors since he has some qualities such as determination, insight, engagement, and curiosity, which are hallmarks of potential. Fernández-Aráoz thinks that even though potential is much more difficult to discern than competence, the key to success is not if one has the right skills, but the potential to learn new things. To make sure ones potential is achieved to the highest level, and to seek all the development opportunities that push them out of their comfort zones are the key skills to success in 21st century.

Fernández-Aráoz also believes that in the second era, the period of time extremely focusing on brain, performance, competency, and experience has already passed. In the 20th century, intelligences, no matter analytical, logical, verbal, or mathematical were all regarded as the critical elements in recruitment processes. However, we are now at the beginning of a fourth era, in which our emphasis should be switched to potential competency-based instead of focusing on particular competencies. That means what makes someone become successful in a specific role today is not necessarily suitable for tomorrow, since the competitive environment changes, and the enterprise’s strategy alters anytime.

Despite of all the differences above, there are some perspectives which Howard Gardener and Claudio Fernández-Aráoz are in common. Both of them mention the impacts and challenges that globalization brings and give some opinions toward managing the difficulties. Gardener believes that globalization includes a variety of parts that weaken or even eliminate human beings positions. One of the changes is capital and other market structure around the globe, with vast amount of sudden circulation each day. Nevertheless, Gardener still thinks that current formal education still provides the young generation primarily for the world of the past. To specify, instead of declaring the precepts clearly, he keeps assuming that educational effects and values are self-evident. Claudio Fernández-Aráoz collects all the factors brought by globalization, and indicates that companies in developing nations are themselves competitive for talent, as well as consumers, around the world. It is really challenging for the current businesses because according to a prediction, most of the world’s growth from now to about 2016 will come from emerging markets. However, for those who have learned how to take advantage of potential, and have had the competence to adjust to and grow into increasingly complicated roles and environments, on the contrary, the situation will offer an exceptional opportunity.

In my opinion, it is for sure that with the progress of science and technology, the explosion of global information, and the ever-changing global economy and diversity, there is no certain way which we can measure the long term plans with our present thinking and knowledge. However, there is one thing we can be absolutely sure of and that is “Successful Leadership”. It does not mean getting rid of factors such as specific competencies, intelligence, performance, or experience, particularly when it comes to leadership. But finding for potential and effectively retaining and developing those who have it, at every level of the organization, should now be the top priority in 21st century.

References