The War for Talent
Every day there is a war for talent. When the economy is roaring, the war gets a lot of attention. Human Resource departments will circulate reports about the hot market. Reporters jump into the fray with articles warning executives about the market. Managers quickly realize that the market is hot, not only because of the articles, but also because recruiters start calling more often.
No company wants to see the best people leave for other opportunities no matter what the economy is like.
Winning the talent war is a complex goal combining leadership, culture, opportunity and other intangibles.
The war for talent happens every day, in every economy, and inside of every organization. It doesn’t just happen when the economy is expanding, nor in the hot sectors like technology. It rages on everywhere, in every organization, continuously.
Instead of looking at companies battling for talent, look at it from a different perspective. Consider the talent wars raging INSIDE the organization.
Step back from it all, and be on the alert inside of your company:
Watch the leaders who attract talent.
Yes, leaders who attract outside candidates are worthwhile to watch. More interesting is to see if a leader attracts talent from within the company. That means that the manager has created a unique environment, a culture that is worth watching.
Watch the leaders who send the talent.
Some managers are especially good at sending leaders. This means the person or group may be especially good at developing next generation leaders. As a result, the manager ends up with raving fans throughout the organization. Study this person’s methods and replicate the success. Leadership is not about direct control but about influence. This manager’s influence is likely growing faster than others.
Watch the leaders who engage their followers.
The war for talent is not only about changing jobs. It’s also about winning the engagement of followers. It is possible to have a solid group of employees who perform well but never achieve anything great. How to inspire employees to give it all is a mark of a leader.
