It is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between competitors in almost every industry in the world. New innovations are quickly copied and improvements in quality, service and price are easily matched. In this globalised world, you can no longer differentiate yourself simply on the basis of your product or service. What you do is becoming increasingly less and less important, and who you are is growing in significance.

If who you are is who you hire, then the ability to attract and retain talented staff (and customers) is increasingly becoming one of the most important capabilities of every company in every industry. Human resource management has therefore never been more strategic than it is now.

Employer brand

Companies spend a lot of time, effort and money raising the profile and acceptance of their brands. They focus on developing the market for what they sell. But very few companies allocate significant resources to developtheir “employer brand”. This is the perception of their company held by current and potential staff members. It directly impacts the company’s ability to attract and retain talented staff.

Younger generations are becoming increasingly discerning as they job hunt, looking beyond salary, basic conditions of employment and the obvious perks. They are asking questions about culture and the “heart” of an organisation they want to work for. There are a few key litmus tests that seem to be applying in analyzing a companys employer quotient.

To attract talent in South Africa in the next five years, the following five items need to be at the focal point of HR and senior leaderships radar screens (in addition to everything else that needs to be done):
Continue reading ‘The Five Most Important People Trends of the Next Five Years’