The rapid changes that continue to affect the business world are often touted as a positive, but business leaders and HR professionals who aren’t keeping up could be looking at an uneasy future.
The rapid changes that continue to affect the business world are often touted as a positive, but business leaders and HR professionals who aren’t keeping up could be looking at an uneasy future.
A recent survey from Right Management found that employers in Australia are both unprepared and unaware of critical leadership needs that they may face in the future.
The survey, which covered 2,000 senior HR executives spanning 14 countries, found only 22% of Australian organisations had a ‘talent pipeline’ to cover future needs, with just 18% concerned with their lack of potential leaders. Additionally, 45.5% stated talent shortages were rampant throughout their organisation.
With the world of business shifting at an alarming rate, the need to have durable systems in place is vital for any organisation. “Business leaders and HR professionals need to evaluate their talent needs more closely to gain a realistic understanding of future talent gaps,” Rosemarie Dentesano, regional practical leader of talent management at Right Management, said.
“In a climate of economic uncertainty, business leaders need to establish a pipeline of high potential talent who hold the skills needed to deliver long term business growth,” Dentesano said, adding that HR professionals and organisational leaders should be collaborating to ensure changes in business are adequately addressed.
Similar issues have been raised by Deb Loveridge, managing director of Asia Pacific, Randstad, who voiced a concern over the lack of effective workforce planning being undertaken in most organisations. Randstad research suggests almost half of employers don’t plan their workforce a year in advance — and just 13% plan for a two-year period. “A more robust, inclusive and long-term approach to workforce planning can ensure organisations have the right skills in the pipeline,” she stated. “A meaningful workforce planning process should follow best practice, align with company strategy, and engage business leaders and employees at all levels.”
The development of longer-term talent plans will help organisations survive the uncertain changes and secure their place in the business world of the future. “Once leaders have the right people in the right jobs, organisations will be able to meet the ongoing challenges of today’s uncertain economic climate,” Dentesano said.
HR Take-aways
Randstad has provided their top 5 tips for improving workforce planning in your organisation:
