Raise the bar on your Talent Game.

Yikes, insert cringey face. Yep, that’s me. At 5’2” I shouldn’t have been a good candidate for the high jump in high school. My coach watched me have the “zoomies” around the track and field every day and he said “Hey, let’s see if we can harness that energy. You are going to do high jump!” Gulp.

It sounded like an impossible task, but with practice, practice, and a little confidence I succeeded! This picture was taken by a yearbook photographer and while I don’t exactly look graceful - I did it! I earned a varsity letter that year.

What’s the point of this story?

Sometimes as an organization, solving the talent riddle can feel impossible. Your talent is your engine, so getting it right is imperative.

Here’s how to approach talent challenges with calm and clear confidence:

Assess the Situation: Begin with an evaluation of your current talent landscape. Identify gaps and understand employee needs. Sometimes it can be tough to be brutally honest about where things stand, but a clear view creates the best decisions for how to move forward with improvements. Here’s the real secret: no organization is where they want to be 100%. It’s ok. It takes serious guts to be honest but that is what drives real change.

Set Clear Goals: Now, define what success looks like for your organization. Are you aiming to increase your candidate pipeline, improve retention, enhance engagement, or streamline recruitment process? Specific, measurable goals provide a roadmap for your strategy. Set the bar high.

Develop a Strategic Plan: Create a detailed plan to align with those goals. Outline actionable steps, timelines, and responsibilities. Involve stakeholders to ensure the plan is robust and feasible. Create buy-in and excitement.

Communicate with Confidence: Effectively communicate your plan and objectives to your team. Show confidence in your strategy and create an environment where feedback is valued - AND acted upon.

Monitor and Adapt: Implement your plan with a focus on continuous improvement. Regularly review progress, seek feedback, and be ready to make adjustments as necessary. Flexibility is key to long-term success. As you achieve your goals, continue to raise the bar slowly. This is where data and KPI’s are essential.

Just as I tackled the high jump with persistence and confidence, addressing talent challenges requires a steady approach and a well-structured plan. Embrace the challenge, and your organization will be better equipped to attract, retain, and develop top talent for lasting success.

And oh - you got this!