Talent Blog

HR leaders possess few more ideal tools to help them achieve strategic partner status in their organizations than the powerful and mysterious concept of workforce planning. Why? Because more than many other functions, workforce planning demands a grasp of the long term, an ability to see the company's big picture – not only now, but for years into the future. The job should come with a crystal ball, a turban and maybe tarot cards.

Perhaps the most difficult part of effective workforce planning is the ability to leap the abyss from right-now-today to what-if-in-the-future. It doesn't take a clairvoyant to appreciate the business world's skittish reaction to the unknown. Even as individuals, few of us relish having to walk into situations we don't know much about ahead of time.

Leading an organization into uncharted territory calls for nerves of steel, an explorer's enthusiasm for breaking new ground, a survivalist's skills for parlaying knowledge and preparation into tools for lessening risk, and an Oscar-winning talent for spinning a compelling vision of tomorrow while simultaneously building the yellow brick road to get there.

What all that hyperbole translates to is this: the ability to be proactive is powerful. It's also the key to achieving business goals. And that's exactly where workforce planning begins. What are your company's objectives? Not just this year's objectives, but next year's, too. And what are your goals five years from now? Ten? Twenty? Can you envision your company two decades from now? What will the office look like? What products or services will you provide? Who will be your customers? How will you interact with them? How will your employees do their work? What do they need to know in order to get ready for tomorrow's workday?

Those are just a few of the questions that must be answered if an organization is to arrive at its future destination. Talent drives the company, and HR drives talent – talent acquisition, talent engagement, talent development, talent retention – all ingredients needed to fuel success, and all facets of workforce planning.

With change challenging organizations at a relentless pace, while dire predictions of talent shortages are already manifesting in some industries and looming darkly over others, the need to look ahead has never been greater. It isn't even a matter of seizing opportunity; it's a matter of preparing for organizational survival. So, grab that crystal ball – and plan your company's talent trip to the future.