Talent Shortage

by Richard Avdoian

In today’s rapidly changing and challenging world, the most successful and engaged employers are those who can attract, recruit and retain the top talent necessary to maintain and grow their businesses. Business owners across the country are in ongoing competition to hunt for and attract individuals who take risks, think creatively and are accountable for results.

Recruiters within companies and those from outsourced agencies alike are finding it more and more difficult to find candidates with the desired backgrounds, skills and experience to perform as the high achievers that business owners and corporations want and need.

Business owners and corporate CEOs that I have had the privilege to meet, work with and interview have admitted that they are trucking along with marginal, lackluster leadership teams.

The identified shortage of desired candidates involves those who can inspire and motivate teams to follow them as they embark upon and implement new innovative processes that raise the bar and differentiate the company from others. This is a quality often associated with entrepreneurs and not typically taught in college and universities. Fortunately, although they are in the early stages, high schools and higher education institutions are now launching entrepreneur programs and courses to instill these qualities.

In the meantime, the lack of courageous, inspired risk-takers in leadership positions are not identifying, stimulating, and motivating members of the workforce who have these desired qualities. If business owners and corporations don’t have within their ranks emerging ambitious resources to fill leadership positions, they risk limiting the potential for the future.

Even though more and more individuals are being trained to lead with an entrepreneurial mindset, the competition to attract their talent is fierce. Employers will need to consider offering higher salaries, possible equity incentives, intensive training and support for their future professional goals.

Visionary, forward-thinking companies recognize the need to implement role-playing exercises and to mentor aspiring junior and senior talent to keep an ongoing supply of future leaders.

So, to ensure the continued growth and success of your business, take a proactive approach, designing and implementing training and mentoring programs to prepare future leaders to rise to the occasion when stepping into key leadership roles.

Richard Avdoian is president/CEO of the Midwest Business Institute Inc., a business consulting and training firm. For information about training and seminars, contact Richard at 618-972-8588 or Richard@RichardAvdoian.com.