The current job market has significantly changed in recent years and continues its evolution at a rapid pace.  As we contemplate the future, we realize the present is already changing.  Everything from leadership responsibilities to attracting and retaining talent in a tight job market where Baby Boomers are making room for Generation X and Generation Y reflects this transition. Talented people are looking for employment and colleagues whose vision and values they share.  Caught off guard, traditional organizations dig in deeper only to realize that tactics and solutions that worked in the past are no longer relevant.  Today thriving work places realize they need fewer bosses and more leaders to ensure there is strong and evolving clarity about the identity and purpose of the organization.  These new leaders are able to replace command -and- control styles with a culture of exquisite 'interconnectedness' fueled by curiosity transparency and a participatory culture by all.  Assertions give way to questions and ideas are encouraged and quickly spread through the organization for even more ideas.  The effective leader today strongly imparts the purpose, identity and values of the effort and ensures that each and every recruit is aware of his/her part in the whole.

 

Today's success currencies include:  transparency, trust, participatory culture, reputation, curiosity, uncertainty filled with opportunity, and ideas.  The HOW results were achieved becomes as critical as the results themselves.  Hiring and promotions are made based on intrinsic skills and talent rather than past experience.   Every industry from advertising to zoo-keeping has been impacted.  In an age when by 'whistle-blogging' a disgruntled employee can post his adverse experience in chat rooms and blogs for all to see, and a favorable posting by a happy customer can improve sales, the dynamics for attracting talent and marketing products is adversely or favorably affected. Based on placing and coaching hundreds in the job market since 1991, at AMAN Consultant we have discovered today almost universally a workforce that no longer wishes to be working in outdated structures causing talent to feel undervalued, under-challenged, disrespected and unclear about the organization's purpose and future.

 

 There are attractive and thriving organizations today.  Examples include Starbucks, Whole Foods and Patagonia.  What do these employers have in common?  HOW are they attracting talented professionals who make these companies successful businesses?

 

'Connecting' with people at all levels and venues based on a strong purpose and values is the spring board that allows success today.  Concentrating on processes and quality rather than outcome and quantity yields desired results. Talent is hungry to find employment with organizations that have recognized and live these new realities.