Focus on Talent Management

For those following my blogs, you know I am keenly focused on talent management.  A future and past event prompted my thoughts.

The future event I’m referencing and looking forward to attending is Infosys’ BPO Analyst Day on October 19^th, which also includes a separate HRO breakout session.  At the event, I will be moderating a six member panel discussion titled “Globalization, Convergence and Social Media, and Talent Management: What is the defining role of HR in shaping tomorrow’s business.” The panel will consist of clients, industry experts, and the global HR leader of Infosys.

More than ever talent management is critically important. In my June 13^th blog titled ManpowerGroup Solutions Analyst Day – It’s All About Talent – Part II, I wrote about the global talent shortage.  Social Media, including its use in the attraction and engagement of talent, will be critical. This is a global phenomenon and companies are beginning to look across borders to meet their demands for talent.

I’m excited to moderate Infosys’ panel discussion since I attended Ochre House’s Annual HR Directors Symposium last week in the U.K.  The event was focused on “re-defining business value through a talent centric approach.” Executives from 50 companies attended and ranged from the Global Head of Engagement to the Director of Global Talent and Organizational Development among others.

Ochre House’s event started with presentations that included:

• Talent Economics: The Business Case by Gyan Nagpal, CEO & Principal, PeopleLENS Global Associates
• People for the Future by David Stephenson, Head of Learning and Development, Telefonica UK
• Beginners Mind: Characteristics of a Talent Centric Organization by Simon Wright, former CEO & President, Virgin Entertainment Group.

Breakout groups included “Talent: HR’s Future in Business Value Creation.” I’ll share some ideas generated in a future blog, but a few thoughts standout and are worth mentioning now:

• Simon Wright, during his presentation, said HR is good at providing data, but needs to bring solutions.  HR cannot sit back and wait for business leaders to ask.
• David Stephenson said all organizations need to innovate, the people who think different move the world forward. Although he used examples such as Steve Jobs, the point is that HR professionals can shape business and move it forward.
• Chris Eaton, former Regional Manager at Smiths Medical who joined in a panel discussion, said people with good technical skills are often put in leadership positions and people management is not high enough on the prioritization list.
• An audience member chimed in the discussion saying HR and the business is too busy doing transactional work to focus on talent.

HRO to the rescue! Not just for administration, but to help attract, engage, and retain talent. HRO vendors and the retained HR can’t replace line managers and business leaders, but can help by providing the tools, training, advising, coaching, and facilitating the processes.

Gary Bragar, HR Outsourcing Research Director, NelsonHall

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Explore posts in the same categories: hr outsourcing, hr outsourcing research, Talent Management

Tags: convergence and social media, globalization, hro, Infosys, Ochre House, social media, talent management, Talent Shortage

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