The CEO agenda for talent

Is your talent strategy a growth strategy?

Is your talent strategy fit for growth?

Talent is now an integral part of strategic planning, tied to business plans and growth targets. Almost 60% of US CEOs are planning to hire this year. The challenge is in finding and retaining the right mix of people as companies cope with an acute skills mismatch problem: talent shortages amid high unemployment.

This is impacting corporate profitability. Almost a quarter of US CEOs say they were unable to pursue a market opportunity and another fifth state they were unable to innovate effectively because of talent constraints. CEOs are responding in multiple ways, from demanding better information on metrics such as returns on investment in human capital to encouraging global mobility among experienced employees. But recognizing that ad hoc measures won’t go far, some CEOs are investing in seeding and developing the skills they need, including partnering with the public sector in long-term solutions.

Quotes

Douglas R. Oberhelman
Chairman and CEO, Caterpillar Inc.

"As we expand around the globe, one-size-fits-all will not work. For example, Chinese leadership and needs are so different from those in India, Brazil, Canada, and Belgium. Talent has to be regionally directed, and that’s what we’re working on. Frankly, it’s a big challenge, because as we’re new to some of these places and our growth is strong, we’re having trouble teaching what we want our leaders to do and know."
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The CEO agenda