8 Best Practices to Improve Your Talent Management

Talent management is an organized process that organizations follow for recruiting, developing, and retaining their top talent. This involves finding out where the best candidates are located, attracting those individuals to open positions within the organization; providing training to help them grow, and creating opportunities for growth across upskilling and reskilling.

The goal is to ensure that you’re meeting your vital strategic goals while ensuring that your people are happy, engaged, and ultimately successful.

According to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management, about half of the organizations still need a formal talent management plan. Among other organizations with one, nearly 50% say it needs to be improved.

So, the question arises: what are talent management best practices? Let’s find out!

Here are the 8 talent management practices for 2023 that will contribute to the success of any organization:

1. Promoting the Organization’s Brand

Employers are increasingly investing in their corporate image and how they present themselves to potential job applicants.

The key to making sure you’re seen as an employer of choice is to develop a company culture and persona and ensure prospective employees recognize and are attracted to that.

Top-tier employees often have several options, so presenting yourself in the best possible light is crucial. To stand out from the crowd, consider creating a company culture and persona — what makes your company unique? What do you offer that others don’t? How does your company fit into the industry? Prospective employees might ask these questions when looking for a new position.

Google receives over 3 million resumes annually and has become one of the most desirable employers. Why? Because the company invests heavily in the workplace environment, offers excellent career development opportunities, and gives people a chance to learn and grow.

2. Setting Recruitment Goals

When you start looking for a new hire, there are many things to consider – including how much money you want to spend on hiring, whether you want to hire someone locally, and even where to find the best talent. But one thing you shouldn’t overlook is defining precisely the end goals of your recruitment process.

An excellent place to start is to ask yourself why you’re looking to fill the role. Do you want to expand globally? Are you trying to solve a specific problem? Or maybe you want extra support to speed up development projects. Whatever your reason, ensure you know exactly what you want to accomplish.

Once you understand your goals, you can begin thinking about the type of person you want to attract. What does the ideal employee look like? How they fit in your culture?? And most importantly, what does the job entail?

If you still need to define criteria, now is the time to brainstorm. You might ask yourself questions such as, Does the person need experience working abroad? Do they need to be bilingual? Will they need to travel frequently?

This information will help you define your ideal candidate and narrow down the potential hires. Now you can focus on finding those individuals who meet your needs.

3. Promote Internal Hirings

Internal hiring is becoming one of the best examples of talent management practices. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of internal promotions increased by 6 percent last year. It means that hiring managers are taking advantage of this trend to promote talented team members internally instead of externally.

Internal hirings account for almost 36 percent of all total hiring, as employers consider internal hiring, along with employee referral, an important source of high-caliber talent. 

Why should you consider promoting a current employee? There are three main reasons:

  1. It saves money. Promoting within the organization allows you to save money on recruiting fees.
  2. It increases productivity. By fostering an existing employee, you give them a chance to prove their worth.
  3. It builds loyalty. Employees appreciate being promoted because it shows that their work is valued.

It also helps build a strong relationship with the individual. When you promote someone, you show that you trust their abilities and believe they could contribute to the business’s success. Professional development goals for work can play a critical role in ensuring that internal hires are well-prepared and positioned for success in their new roles.

Also Read:  The Necessity of Crisis Management Training for Today’s and Future Leaders

4. Streamlined Recruitment for Positive Candidate Experience

employee onboarding for talent managementThe best way to attract and retain great employees is to provide a positive candidate experience. It includes everything from ensuring you have a strong onboarding program to clear communication about the next steps along the journey.

Companies must consider the entire recruitment cycle when it comes to attracting top talent. Not just during the job posting phase but throughout the hiring process as a whole. In fact, according to a recent study conducted by CareerBuilder, a candidate with a referral has 3-4 times higher chances of getting hired as compared to a candidate without a referral.

Companies should also keep in mind that active and passive job seekers are out there. While many people don’t want to admit they’re looking for a change publicly, others are happy to let recruiters know if they’ve found something better.

In addition to being aware of the different types of applicants, companies should also make sure their job postings accurately represent what the position entails. The modern practice of talent management emphasizes that job descriptions should include key responsibilities, requirements, and qualifications. They should also describe why those requirements matter and how the person filling the role will benefit the company.

5. A smooth On-boarding Process

The onboarding process is a crucial part of the hiring process. An effective onboarding process helps reduce turnover rates and increase employee satisfaction. A well-designed onboarding process includes training materials, orientation sessions, performance reviews, and ongoing coaching. This type of support should continue throughout the entire tenure of a new hire.

A study found that nearly 70% of new hires with structured onboarding programs are likely to continue working at the organization for up to three years, compared to just over half of those without a structured onboarding plan.

While most companies focus on onboarding new hires during their first 90 days, new research suggests that you should consider having ongoing onboarding support throughout the employee lifecycle. A study conducted by the Harvard Business Review found that new hires who received ongoing training and mentoring had better retention rates than those without such support.

6. Performance-based Employee Assessments 

Talent management best practices acknowledge that no two people are alike. Every person has unique skills, knowledge, abilities, experiences, and interests. As such, it’s essential to assess each employee based on their strengths, weaknesses, and potential.

To do this effectively, you must understand what motivates your employees and why they work the way they do. You can start by asking questions like, What are their goals? How does their current role contribute to those goals? Do they enjoy coming to work? Are there areas where they could grow professionally? These questions help you identify specific behaviors and attitudes that can be improved.

7. Re-analyzing the Employee Benefits

The best way to improve employee satisfaction and retention is to make sure you offer various benefits that meet their individual needs. It includes health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, flexible work arrangements, tuition reimbursement programs, and much more.

When it comes to benefit packages, there are many different ways to go about it. You could offer one benefit plan for everyone, or you could customize plans to fit the specific needs of your employees. 

8. Strive for a Positive Work Environment

A company’s work environment can make or break its talent management strategy. If your organization has a positive work atmosphere, it will only matter if you implement a robust onboarding program or provide competitive pay and benefits packages. Your team members will not be fully invested in your success and are much more likely to leave if they feel overworked or stressed out while at work.

When company culture includes respect, acknowledgment, and a healthy workspace, they become partners for long-term success. Companies that strategically invest in their workforce reap the rewards of loyal and focused employees.

Also Read:  7 Ways to Address Your Industry’s Skills Shortage Using Talent Management Software

Conclusion

In today’s fast-paced world, where companies compete fiercely for talented individuals, businesses must have a strong talent management strategy. By investing time and resources into this process, employers can ensure that they can attract, engage, and retain the right talent for their organization.

Talent Management Software

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why is Talent Management important?

Talent management is essential to any business because it helps organizations attract, develop, retain, and reward top performers. It also allows them to create a productive workplace with high morale and low turnover.

Q2. What is Talent Management?

Talent management refers to all the activities involved in managing human capital. It covers everything from attracting, developing, retaining, rewarding, and motivating employees.

Q3. How should I approach Talent Management?

There are three main approaches to talent management: strategic, tactical, and operational. Strategic talent management focuses on creating a vision for the future of the organization. Tactical talent management involves implementing a set of practices to achieve organizational objectives. Operational talent management focuses on improving existing processes and systems.

Q4. What is the most critical aspect of Talent Management?

An organization’s talent strategy is one of the most critical elements of its success. A well-defined talent strategy helps align people, processes, and technology around the needs of the business. Successful organizations understand that talent is the lifeblood of every organization. As such, it must be managed effectively.


Subscribe To The Engagedly Newsletter 


9 Effective Talent Management Strategies in 2024

What Is a Talent Management Strategy?

Talent management is a workplace practice that helps companies recruit and create a talent pool that is productive and committed to the organization in the long run. When implemented strategically, talent management can boost overall business efficiency and help companies gain a competitive advantage. Talent management is a comprehensive process that includes how organizations bring employees on board, keep them happily engaged, and help them advance in their career paths over time.

Why Implement Talent Management Practices?

Promotes Employee Retention and Engagement

Employee engagement refers to the workplace concept where employees communicate, network, coordinate, give feedback, practice teamwork, and are excited and dedicated to their job. Retention is when they feel loyal and plan to stay in the organization longer.

Talent management practices primarily provide employees with opportunities to learn and grow. This ultimately leads to increased cohesion between the employer and employee. Employees feel valued and consider a long-term association with the organization. 

Also read: 5 Employee Engagement Statistics You Should Be Aware of in 2023

Closes the Knowledge and Skill Gap

The knowledge or talent gap refers to an organization’s lack of sufficient skilled personnel. A persistent skill gap can hinder an organization’s growth and development. It also negatively impacts the employees’ motivation. Employees feel demotivated owing to a lack of experienced and talented people to look up to for necessary instructions and support to work effectively.

One of the best approaches to talent management to manage this gap is identifying KSA (knowledge, skills, and ability) for a job role and providing training opportunities accordingly.

Saves Hiring Costs

Hiring costA survey conducted by Gallup found that replacing an employee costs one-half to two times the employee’s annual salary. Investing in a talent management program improves employee retention and reduces employee turnover, eliminating these expenses.

Also read: 5 Best Tips to Reduce Employee Turnover

Boosts Productivity

According to a study by Gallup, organizations with a high level of employee engagement were found to have 22% higher productivity than those with less engaged employees. Talent management tools boost productivity and efficiency by streamlining procedures and making important information and resources easily accessible. 

Also read: Employee Engagement For Boosting Productivity

Organizations must implement a sound and robust talent management strategy and best practices to create and nurture a thriving work environment. Talent management strategies ensure employees are engaged, motivated, and empowered to contribute to their maximum potential. Read ahead to learn about the 9 best practices to adopt in talent management in 2024.

Top 9 Talent Management Strategies For 2024

Talent Management Strategies For 2024An effective talent management process includes various processes such as recruiting, onboarding, performance management, compensation planning, learning, and succession planning. When all these things work in harmony, companies gain a competitive advantage.

Define Clear Objectives

Aligning individual goals with the organization’s goals and objectives helps employees understand their responsibilities more clearly. This ultimately results in greater accountability as well as stronger job performance. However, this requires communicating the business’s objectives across the entire company.

Moreover, managers must be able to access and view the goals of other departments to reduce redundancy and build cross-functional support.

Also read: How Can Setting Employee Goals Help Your Organization?

Draft an Effective Job Description

A detailed job description helps employees understand the job better. It also aids the recruitment process, assisting hiring managers in recruiting the right talent. A clear and concise job description must include the following:

  • Overall job responsibilities 
  • Skills and equipment required to be handled
  • Salary information
  • Qualification and experience required

Employee Engagement Survey

Effective Compensation and Benefits Program

Effective Compensation and Benefits ProgramCompensation and benefits form an integral part of a talent management strategy. Companies must devise practical and cost-effective compensation plans to attract and retain the best talent. One such innovative idea can be to provide employees with a Flexi Benefit Plan (FBP).

This employee benefit plan allows employees to choose a few components of their CTC per their requirements and preferences. Personalized benefit plans strengthen interpersonal relationships between employees and employers and foster employee engagement. Another way to offer a competitive salary package is to benchmark the compensation across different industries and offer a standard package.

Also read: Is Employee Recognition Only About Employee Perks?

Quality Training and Learning Opportunities

Quality learning and development programs help employees advance in their career paths. Companies should develop and introduce training programs that enable employees to acquire new skills and fine-tune the current knowledge base.

Investing in employee professional and personal growth by offering various learning platforms is a good idea. One such initiative can be to implement learning management systems (LMS). The software application provides on-site, remote, and on-demand cloud-based training. The integrated platform administers, tracks, records, and automates the delivery of educational training.

Regular and Robust Performance Evaluation

A robust performance management system is devised to offer a systematic platform to assess and improve employees’ performance. Choose a performance management system that identifies areas for improvement, helps employees develop new skills, and aligns individual goals with organizational objectives.

Companies can use automated performance management software to streamline and fasten their performance evaluation process. Another strategy will be to define KPIs (key performance indicators) and KRAs (key resulting areas) for different employees and job roles.

Also read: Top 10 Performance Management Software In 2023

Employee Flexibility and Autonomy

A ManpowerGroup Solutions research shows that approximately 40% of job seekers consider workplace flexibility as a top priority while making career decisions. Hence, organizations must embrace flexibility and autonomy to attract and retain a skilled workforce.

The following are the key factors that describe flexibility and autonomy in today’s work world to foster work-life balance:

  • Choice of part-time or full-time work
  • Compressed shifts or workweek
  • Increased paid time off
  • Leaves for attending personal exigencies such as caregiving leave, sabbatical, career breaks, etc.
  • Participation in decision-making
  • Autonomy to make suggestions for projects
  • Option to work remotely
  • Flexible arrival and departure times
Also read: Employee Happiness: 12 Ways To Keep Employees Happy

Implement DEI practices

A survey by Valuvox across 11 Indian cities found that 77% of employers acknowledge that not prioritizing diversity, inclusion, and belonging (DI&B) could negatively impact their organization’s growth and performance. Following are some of the initiatives HR leaders can take to embrace DEI effectively:

  • Create employee resource groups (ERGs).
  • Make recruitment inclusive by creating a diverse interview panel.
  • Source candidates beyond the usual network.
  • Draft inclusive company policies.
  • Train and educate managers to mitigate unconscious bias at the workplace and during the hiring process.
Also read: 9 Ways To Tackle Unconscious Bias At Work

Embrace Technology

With the advent of technology in every aspect of an organization, it will be wise to embrace the same for managing Human Resources-related tasks. Implement sound Human Capital Management (HCM) software to automate various HR processes, such as performance management, payroll management, training, and development.

Make sure the HCM software has the following features:

  • Easy to navigate
  • Mobile friendly
  • Easy to integrate with other software used by the company
  • Generates data-driven actionable insights
  • Provides real-time data analytics
Also read: 7 HR Tasks That Could (And Should) Have Been Automated Yesterday

Career Development Program

A survey found that 36% of the employees feel their company doesn’t track or manage their personal/career development. Additionally, a LinkedIn report suggests that 94% of employees surveyed believe increased learning and career development opportunities can make them stay longer with the organization.

Hence, talent management practices must focus on career development mechanisms to plan, prepare, and advance an employee’s career over time. It should include coaching, mentoring, skills development, networking, and defining a career path. Job shadowing and rotation are some workplace practices that can aid career development.

Additionally, companies must focus on succession planning as well. It can be done through continuous upgradation of skills and competencies of employees to meet the current demands.

Wrapping Up

Various studies and surveys suggest that organizations that focus on building a strong company culture and ideology successfully attract and retain a workforce that doesn’t just work for a paycheck. Talent management fosters a work environment where employees share the same beliefs and motivations, investing more effort in achieving great results and driving organizational growth.

Engagedly offers talent managers a platform to keep track of employees within the organization. The software tracks data at different points of the employee life cycle. The platform takes care of everything from offering managers unique report cards, tracking employee performance, and training employees on crucial subjects to an open communication channel nurturing transparency.

Engagedly – The Performance Management Software for Millennials

Talent Management Software


Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is job shadowing?

Ans. Job shadowing is an on-the-job training wherein the interested employee works closely with an employee performing a particular job role. Job shadowing is categorized into observation, regular briefings, and hands-on training.

Q2. What is the difference between KPIs and KRAs?

Ans. KPI refers to key performance indicators. The metrics help gauge an organization’s success using certain indicators. For instance, the time taken to convert a lead can be one KPI for a loan department. Other KPIs can be the number of qualified leads per month and hours of resources spent on sales follow-up.

KRAs refer to key result areas. They indicate the areas an employee needs to work on. KRAs differ for each employee based on their job profile, designation, performance, and qualification. For example, an HR manager’s KRA would be attrition rate, employee satisfaction, etc.

Q3. How does succession planning differ from replacement planning?

Ans. Replacement planning primarily focuses on finding suitable replacements only for top executive positions. Succession planning, on the other hand, focuses on empowering and training employees to develop a talent pool to fill vacancies throughout the business.


Subscribe To The Engagedly Newsletter