What Separates Top CEOs from the Rest?

Top CEOs recognize the importance of finding and hiring the best possible talent.

A recent PwC Global survey illuminates the challenge of developing an effective talent management strategy. In a time where finding the right talent is a primary concern, 93% of CEOs surveyed indicated that they recognize the need to change their strategy for attracting and retaining talent, but only 61% have taken action to do so. Optimizing talent strategy impacts all facets of the business, from the hiring process to leadership development, and is a key differentiator of successful CEOs. But how do you start?

Talent optimization starts with the hiring process, but it doesn’t end there. There is a lot that CEOs can do to hold on to talent once they get it, and to make sure they are getting the most of out of employees they already have. Most CEOs are not able to fire all of their current employees and start fresh, so let’s talk first about optimizing your organization’s pre-existing talent.

Encourage and Cultivate Success

An environment that encourages success will help to bring out employees’ potential. Facilitating rather than micromanaging is bound to cultivate success, as well as keeping employees engaged and motivated so they don’t decide to look elsewhere. Assessments can help in this process by illuminating employees’ strengths so that CEOs know exactly which skills to cultivate and how to best assign tasks that will help employees use their skills to the best advantage.

Assessments help CEOs find the best possible talent for each position.

Teach Goal-Setting

Many studies have shown that setting goals is strongly associated with increased productivity, and nowhere is this truer than in the workplace. But not all goals are equally effective, and unrealistic goals can lead to frustration and decreased satisfaction as employees struggle and feel that they are failing in the workplace. Assessments can be used to encourage better goal-setting by revealing areas of focus that will lead to success rather than struggles and failure.

Be Smart, Be Flexible

It’s fairly common for employees (and employers) to feel like they’ve fallen into a rut at work and to fail to see the possibilities and benefits of changing up tasks when it makes sense to do so. Variety and new challenges are part of what makes jobs satisfying for many employees, and using assessment data can help CEOs identify areas of flexibility that will help manage employee satisfaction in the best possible way.

Finding The Best Talent

As you have the opportunity to hire new talent, you will want to find the best possible candidates for your new or open positions. Along with careful resume screening and meaningful interviews, pre-hire assessments can give your hiring teams data that shows the best possible matches between your needs and the available talent pool. Making better matches will make other talent optimization practices easier and move the bar forward for productivity and profitability company-wide.

Interested in talent optimization and building higher performing teams? Click here to get started!