When the world turned upside down this year, I feared my business would as well. Surprisingly, it didn’t. The opposite actually happened. I’ve never been busier.
When times get difficult, it is easier to see people’s shortcomings and CEOs are reassessing their teams and replacing talent where there are gaps. Top talent is also taking the time to reassess. As much as the headlines are filled with layoffs and staff reductions, great leadership is needed more than ever and great leaders have choices.
This moment has made many people think about how the world is changing and how they want to leverage their talents differently. They are thinking about their families, where they want to live, how they want to shape their careers and the impact they can make through their work. I know this because I spend my days talking to the most talented people out there and a big part of my work is understanding what drives individuals and what will motivate them to make a new career move. My conversations have gotten deeper and what is prompting the decision to make a career shift is different than what it was a year ago.
This moment has awakened people to the possibilities. The idea of a remote working world with flexibility and more choice is upon us and people are seeking more purpose in their work and are exploring new opportunities that will deliver on this. Leaders have been challenged like never before. They have ridden out what is believed to be the biggest part of the storm, downsized teams and let good people go. It has been a heavy time period and they are considering what lies ahead for their career as they look to the future and think about what matters most.
Change is exciting and being part of something different is tantalizing for many people right now. When we think of the word retention, it is often associated with our customer base. We are building companies and selling products and retaining our customers is always top of mind. But as an executive, your most important customers are your employees.
Beyond the HR survey or the remote technology upgrades, how much have you been thinking about your top talent? When was the last time you had a career discussion with the key players in your company? Have you learned how much their thinking has changed? How their aspirations may have altered or how their values may have adjusted? Have you asked them what matters most when it comes to their career happiness and are you able to deliver on it?
Right now, these discussions are more important than ever. Make retention a top priority as you grow your business. Build metrics around it and train your leaders to employ their EQ. As tough as everything is, exceptional talent is still the hardest thing to come by. If you are lucky enough to have it in your organization, nurture it. If you don’t, you know where I am to help you find it.
P.S. This week we announced the launch of Career Masters to support people who are ready for career transformation. The program begins September 14th. If this speaks to you, please join us. If you know somebody the program can bring value to, please share.
