A Comprehensive Approach

The hiring process has to be holistic rather than on as-needed basis, in order to attract and retain talent.

- Lisette Howlett

If organisations are to consistently attract and retain the talent they need for success, today and in the future, these are the top five priorities they should consider:

Hiring talent needs to be raised to be a core leadership competence from its present function of being a tactical activity undertaken reluctantly when there is a vacancy. Hiring needs to be seen by leaders as a critical skill for their long-term success, and ensure that they instill a strong hiring culture in their organisation. The direct and indirect costs of a poor hire are significant and apart from wasting a lot of money, can also hinder organisation growth.

Hiring needs to be positioned in a more strategic context—it should not be done simply because of the organisation’s need today but rather for the anticipated needs of the future. The organisation’s design needs to be dynamic, allowing flexibility to attract new talent as well as to develop it internally. Sourcing potential new employees needs to be continuous and built into the culture rather than restricted to searching for a candidate for a specific job.