You may have heard me say that the labor challenges facing all of us is not in terms of numbers. So many people think that with the boomer retirements coming, there will be a shortage of people. It is not a shortage of people (there are more Gen Y than Boomers). It is a shortage of TALENT in the people. Hey, at least the people are in existence. If you were tasked with creating 25 year olds, ya'd be in real trouble. We just have to inject knowledge and develop talent. The following quote comes from this article:
“It’s not necessarily a shortage of talent in terms of numbers of people, but rather a knowledge gap in the workforce,” said Eric Buntin, Randstad’s managing director of marketing and operations. “Bringing generations together can certainly address that gap and help transfer that knowledge across generations to the workforce of the future. I think that’s key for learning executives today.”
Eric Buntin is correct, but what can we do to start some knowledge transfer from the gray hair to the bleached hair? Before you get too jacked and schedule and expensive off site with your next gens, take em to lunch or even for a drink at the bar. Pick some of your younger people who do have talent and invite them to be a part of your "help me" group. Let the youngsters pick the spot and just hang with them. You may find that the strategic business conversations will happen best on about the 3rd hangtime.
Once your next gens know that you care for them and their development, they will care more for you and your business needs. Upon this relationship blossom you can begin to discuss some real strategic ways to all work together and come up with the best talent development process. Understand that by focusing on their development that you are stroking a priority for them (being developed and a boss that is highly interested).
The next time you fear the shortage of labor...realize it is the talent that is scarce and something can be done about that. Why not stake much of your sustainability on how you develop your people.
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