Johnny Taylor, Jr., President and CEO of SHRM and author of "Reset," dives into the pressing issue of uncovering overlooked talent in today’s job market. He discusses the challenges organizations face in talent acquisition and emphasizes the moral and business imperatives of diverse hiring. Notably, Johnny highlights the value of older workers, veterans, and other historically marginalized groups, advocating for inclusive practices that can lead to long-term success. His insights inspire leaders to prioritize cultural transformation and recognize untapped potential.
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insights INSIGHT
Talent Scarcity
Finding qualified talent is a major problem for HR professionals and hiring managers.
This talent scarcity is driven by declining birth rates and a mismatch between skills and organizational culture.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Diversity as an Imperative
Overlooking talent from underserved populations is now a business imperative, not just a moral one.
Failure to consider these groups amounts to professional malpractice in today's competitive market.
insights INSIGHT
Older Workers' Potential
Older workers represent a growing talent pool with significant potential.
Ageism in hiring practices often overlooks the valuable experience and contributions of older individuals.
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Reset: A Leader’s Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr.
Reset: A Leader’s Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval offers a forward-thinking vision for leaders to reimagine their company cultures amidst global upheaval. The book challenges traditional assumptions about workers and workplaces, providing practical strategies for talent acquisition and retention, and tools for sustaining success. It emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive cultures that leverage diversity for growth and innovation.
Johnny Taylor, Jr.: Reset
Johnny Taylor, Jr. is President and CEO of SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management. Johnny is frequently asked to testify before Congress on critical workforce issues and authors a weekly column, "Ask HR," in USA Today.
Johnny was chairman of the President's Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities and served as a member of the White House American Workforce Policy Advisory Board during the Trump Administration. He is the author of the new book Reset: A Leader’s Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval*.
In this conversation, Johnny and I highlight the current challenges in discovering talent and the populations that have been historically overlooked. We discuss what SHRM’s research and experience are showing to help leaders make better decisions on finding talent. Plus, we explore how to best handle incentives, so that we create the kind of culture that we will value inside our organizations.
Key Points
Both line managers in organizations and human resource professionals agree: finding a deep enough talent pool is a big problem.
Historically, attracting overlooked talent felt right, but may not have been essential to be competitive. Those times are ending for most organizations.
Studies show that organizations who discover talent in older workers, differently abled workers, veterans, the formerly incarcerated, people of color, and LGBTQ populations see positive, long-term results.
The incentives for finding overlooked talent often are transactional. To ensure sustainability, leaders must establish this as a value in their organizations.
Resources Mentioned
Reset: A Leader’s Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval* by Johnny Taylor, Jr.
Interview Notes
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