What makes someone truly excel at work? According to Karl Giuseffi, Ph.D., Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Talent Plus, the answer lies in talent science — the study of people’s natural abilities and how those abilities shape success in daily life and work. 

Karl recently joined Business Builders with Matt and Rebecca to share how understanding and developing innate talent helps individuals and organizations perform at their best. His insights reveal how a strengths-based approach can transform teams, boost performance and build cultures that celebrate what people naturally do well. 

What Talent Really Means 

“Talent is people’s natural thoughts, feelings and behaviors,” Karl explains. “They show up consistently. It’s hardwired into who you are.” 

He believes talent isn’t rare or reserved for a select few — it’s universal. The key lies in role fit, or aligning what people naturally do best with the demands of the job. When that alignment happens, employees bring energy and engagement to their work, and that creates a measurable impact on business outcomes. 

“Everyone has talent,” Karl says. “It’s just role dependent. Inside a business context, that means finding individuals that are going to set you up for success.” 

The Power of Talent in Action 

When people’s talents align with their work, results follow. And those results can be dramatic. 

“Sales talented people can sell three to five times more than anyone else,” Karl says. “When placed with a great leader, that performance can amplify by 40 to 70%.” 

Talent Plus has spent decades studying why some individuals consistently outperform others. Its research shows that talent is 26 times more predictive of job success than education. That insight challenges traditional hiring practices that often focus on credentials instead of natural ability. In other words, focusing on what people do best delivers stronger returns than focusing on what’s written on their resumes.  

From executives and healthcare professionals to technicians and lawn care crews, Karl emphasizes the principle stays the same. “No organization can succeed if you don’t focus on everybody — from the person mowing the lawn all the way up to the CEO.” 

The Science Behind the Approach 

Talent Plus builds its methods on positive psychology, emphasizing what’s right about people instead of what’s wrong. By conducting structured interviews and studying top performers in each role, Talent Plus identifies the patterns of thought and behavior that drive excellence. Those insights guide organizations in selection, coaching and leadership development. 

Rather than trying to change people, Karl says, Talent Plus helps companies place them where they naturally excel. “We want to align individuals with work that energizes them,” he says. “When that happens, both the person and the organization win.” 

Talent Starts Early 

Karl notes that talent begins to reveal itself in childhood. “At age seven, you start seeing behaviors that show how kids connect with others and seize opportunities,” he says. “That’s talent starting to grow.” 

By adulthood, those natural patterns are well established. “By the time you approach adulthood, you’re not going to become a different person,” Karl explains. “We come with presets, and our environments help structure them.” 

Recognizing talent early has big implications for how parents, teachers and leaders nurture growth. Instead of correcting perceived weaknesses, Karl encourages focusing on the natural strengths that set someone apart. “Focus on what’s right about people that’s going to allow them to be highly successful and differentiate them,” he says. 

Talent Knows No Boundaries 

Talent Plus’s extensive data also challenges long-held assumptions about gender and race. “The data supports the fact that men and women are a lot more equal in their capabilities than people believe,” Karl says. “There are no statistically meaningful differences.” 

Across decades of global research, the findings stay consistent: talent crosses every demographic and background. What matters most is who a person is, not the category they fit into. These insights reinforce the importance of inclusion, or recognizing that exceptional potential exists in every community, culture and demographic group. 

Bringing It All Together 

Talent Plus’s research reinforces a simple truth — when people are placed in roles that match their natural strengths, they’re happier, more engaged and more productive, which drives lasting success. Karl and his team continue to study how talent shapes performance, helping organizations around the world discover and develop what makes each person exceptional. 

“We find people who are going to be exceptional inside of their jobs,” Karl says. “They’re going to thrive. And when they have leaders that invest in them in the right ways, that are going to grow them in the right ways, that amplifies the existing talent that’s already there.” 

Watch the full interview: Business Builders with Matt and Rebecca featuring Karl Giuseffi, Ph.D.