Talent Management - It's About the People

Talent management is, at it's simplest, anticipating the needs for talent (hard to fill positions or those crucial to the organization) and setting out a plan to meet those needs. Managing talent is crucial to maintain innovation and productivity.Talent management is one of the toughest challenges leaders face - and it's made even tougher in today's uncertain environment.

Corporations, large and small, have eliminated thousands of positions. Each of us has either more than likely been in an organization that eliminated positions, know someone how has lost a position or thinks this may still happen to them, a friend, or a family member.

Talent management - it's all about people. It's all about THE people and having people in your organization that feel valued, amongst all else, is the heart of retention strategies.

I am moderating a panel on "Setting the Organizational Pace through Employee Engagement" at the 12th Annual Talent Management Summit today. I have a wonderful panel and we are going to offer the audience a glimpse inside their organizations. We'll discuss the business issues they are facing, what they are doing to inspire confidence in their organization's leadership, and how they are inspiring employees in this down economy. Because these are businesses after all, we'll also talk about the tools they are developing or using to drive productivity.

You have to know, my biggest fear is running out of questions. I opened the floor for talent management questions here and on Twitter. I'd like to thanks Steve Boese and Chris Ponder for their questions. 

I am psyched! Not just about my panel but get this, after my panel, I get to sit on a panel moderated by the HR Bartender herself and watch Jason Seiden in action the next day!

So, turn your cell phones off, keep the back channel positive and wish me luck!

Talent Questions? The Floor Is Now Open

Fall is in the air (in Minnesota). School is starting, apples are ripening,  leaves will be falling - soon - and the 12th Annual Talent Management Summit is just around the corner.

I am moderating a panel on Setting the Organizational Pace through Employee Engagement. I have an amazing panel to highlight and draw experience from, each engaged day to day in developing and leading talent management initiatives in their organizations.

I am beginning to get my thoughts together for our session and first off, I set some goals: to engage both the panel and the audience, to look at the issues from many angels and above all, to have fun. Oh yes, one more goal -to not crash and burn my first time in front of this type of an audience.

To do this well, I need your help.

Consider this. "A number of corporations, both large and small, have had to eliminate thousands of positions. Managing talent is crucial to maintain innovation and productivity. Feeling valued, amongst all else, is the heart of retention strategies."

Now, check out the topics below. If you were sitting in the audience, what would you want to know about them? Talent management professionals, what are the absolutely-must-not-miss points?  

• Building confidence in leadership
• Inspiring employees
• Developing tools for productivity

Hit me in the comments or send me an email. If you have a lot to say, we can talk. I'll take anything and everything talent management/employee engagement I can get my hands on!

If you are planning to attend or are thinking about it, my friends at the Talent Management Summit are offering you 20% off the standard rate with the code IUS_HRTH_#1. Hope to see you there!

Social Media Power and a Personal Branding Wake-Up Call

I am attending the 12th Annual Talent Management Summit as a participant and as a moderator. This post is not about the summit. It is about the power of social media and a personal branding wake-up call.

The Power of Social Media

@TalentMgmtSmt was extremely kind on Twitter when they said, "12th Annual Talent Management Summit is proud to welcome super blogger and HR Expert @lisarosendahl to the speaker faculty!"

Although I am not an expert and don't consider myself a super blogger, I appreciated the thoughts just the same. So, how did it come to be that I was asked to moderate? It goes to Shauna Moerke, aka the lovable HR Minion. She did it. Experienced conference attendees are probably thinking right now it's a moderator spot, not a key note speaker, get your feet back on the ground. My feet are firmly planted and you have to know that the offer to moderate, as cool as it is, is not what blows me away right now.

I am blown away by the amazing gesture. Shauna, whom I have not yet had the opportunity to meet in person, recommended me. Wow, what an awesome compliment.

If we have not yet met, how do we of know each other? We've gotten to know each other through our blogs, HR social networks, and Twitter. If not for social media, I would not have had the opportunity to know Shauna or to meet so many other amazing people. Considering this is what I'm gaining as an entry level student in social media, imagine the possibilities!

Personal Branding

Whether you realize it or not, people are forming impressions of you each and every day. I received the following e-mail this week in response to my post, HR Matters. I'm in Print!

Congratulations! We really enjoy your thoughts....3-4 of us at Company X are following you. You are a prime example of building a brand on-line. You have become SO WELL KNOWN from your Tweets, Blogs/use of social media--pioneer you are!

I know the sender. We have spoken a few times, but we have not met. She also has an impression of me based on my blog and Twitter. She even used the "B" word - brand. Whoa. Me building a brand on line? Branding was something for me to take a look at "some day," but really, isn't that what we all are doing every time we post a comment, picture, link, or tweet?

What do you know about branding? One recent, simple, solid, straight to the point post on branding I like is by Jason Seiden. Jason offers his 3 steps to a kickin' personal brand: be self aware: know who you are; be honest: tell the truth about who you are; be at ease: be comfortable with who you are.

Personal branding or not, this is general all-around good advice for simply being, connecting and getting to know others. How do you measure up?

Final Note

If you are thinking about making the leap into social media and are hesitant, think again. Take it one step at a time. Comment on a blog, follow a colleague on Twitter, set up a Facebook page or establish a Linked In profile. Connect with a friend or two and let your network grow naturally and at your pace.

You are your own brand. Manage this wisely. Be authentic, be nice to others and be prepared for the unexpected.