The Executive Guide to High-Impact Talent Management: Powerful Tools for Leveraging a Changing Workforce Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I read a quote by Bill Gates many years ago that would have been a fitting tribute for this book. When asked what gave him the most pleasure in his role as Microsoft CEO, Mr. Gates responded, "Hiring good people." The term of "talent management" might be a new millennium way to describe what used to be called, "hiring and managing the best." The concept, regardless of how it is named, remains an integral managerial function.
Focused Presentation
Two early quotes by co-authors David DeLong and Steven Trautman set the tone for this extremely detailed, comprehensive and informative book:
"But with massive changes coming in workforce demographics, the number of candidates in the age bracket that normally fills leadership roles will drop 30 percent by 2015, according to recent research."
"Four generations with distinctly different orientations to work, technology, communication, and learning are leading to increased conflict in the workplace."
Detailed Introduction, Precise Notes Section and Unique Appendix
The introduction was an excellent preview with chapter-by-chapter summaries and the objectives of the book. I liked this format and wish that more books would follow its example. This overview provides a concise yet detailed summary. The neatly organized notes section at the end of the book provides precisely referenced sources for every chapter. The appendix has a "Checklist for the Effective Manager." This feature is a comprehensive series of questions directly associated with the book's content. I liked that the co-authors provided chapter references which will make this section a useful reference source.
Crisp Informative Format
There are 10 chapters with approximately 25 pages of content per chapter. The co-author's writing style is targeted for senior executives; however, readers from diverse backgrounds will also benefit. The authors employ generous use of bold-faced headings and bullets. This feature assisted with readability and to drive home key points. Another feature that I liked was gray highlighted areas called "For Talent Management and HR Business Partners" sprinkled throughout the book. The book's index was another example of the co-author's attention to detail for busy executives. Many entries are organized as phrases, and page numbers followed by an "f" or a "t" refer to figures or tables.
Knowledge Silo Matrix
The co-authors have developed an innovative tool called the Knowledge Silo Matrix (KSM). This is an intriguing graphical representation of specific knowledge domains called "silos." Actually, it is the only graphical chart displayed in the entire book.
Real-World Examples
The co-authors used many talent management scenarios from well-known companies. For example, Baker & McKenzie, Cisco, GE, New York Life and Pfizer. They also provided many other useful examples but in a more anonymous style. These mini-studies provide industry-specific expertise in a variety of sectors. You will likely find one from your own specialty area.
Regardless of which side of the hiring table equation you reside, this book will become a valuable, common-sense tool for preparation and future reference.
Please Note:
I was contacted by a McGraw-Hill representative and requested to provide a review. This is an objective review and I am not obliged to provide a positive one.


Click Here to see more reviews about: The Executive Guide to High-Impact Talent Management: Powerful Tools for Leveraging a Changing Workforce

Recent studies show that in the next few years many companies could have only about half the leaders and skilled workers they need--and that these talent shortages will be particularly acute in the critical sectors like engineering, health care, energy, government, manufacturing, and aerospace and defense. As a line executive you need to ask yourself one question: Do we havewho it takes to drive business performance inthe future?
In The Executive Guide to High-Impact TalentManagement, David DeLong and Steve Trautman combine wide-ranging research and real-world expertise to chart a clear and efficient path for senior leaders. They show how to not only reduce the risks of talent shortages but also maximize the payoff of workforce and leadership developmentinvestments.
Sharing their findings based on more than 70 interviews with senior executives and top-rated talent experts and their own experience as leaders and consultants, DeLong and Trautman show you how to:
Accurately diagnose talent-related risks that threaten performance
Efficiently evaluate and measure workforce and leadership investments
Ensure your staff is aligning talent processes to support business strategy
Accelerate leadership development and the transfer of critical knowledge
Communicate cultural principles that will drive recruiting, development, and retention programs
Assess the talent management IQ of your leadership team

The Executive Guide to High-Impact Talent Management shows leaders how to translate their belief in the importance of investing in people into concrete actions that will improve business performance. Most important, it shows you how to get started today!
Praise for The Executive Guide to High-Impact Talent Management:
"Most executives I know are far more comfortable running the financial or operational or product sides of their business. This book does an excellent job clarifying every leader's real role in developing talent to grow their business." -- John Rex, CFO, Microsoft North America
"DeLong and Trautman have attacked the issue of managing talent and developing leaders in a manner that is systemic, grounded, insightful, and incredibly helpful for a CEO like me and for our entire senior management team." -- Peter Metca lf, CEO, Black Diamond Equipment
"The authors' practical approaches to prioritizing risk and implementing creative talent solutions can help you maximize the payoff of these investments." -- Annmarie Nea l, Vice President, Cisco Center for Collaborative Leadership, Cisco Systems
"DeLong and Trautman show leaders how to compete and win at the increasingly high-stakes game of talent management." -- Joseph W. Wilczek, CEO, Franciscan Health System
"This book is full of practical insights that will make you a more effective leader today." -- Hy Pomerance, Chief Talent Officer, New York Life Insurance Company

Click here for more information about The Executive Guide to High-Impact Talent Management: Powerful Tools for Leveraging a Changing Workforce

Creative Onboarding Programs: Tools for Energizing Your Orientation Program Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was a bit disappointed in the new edition of this book. I loved the first edition released about 10 years ago, but this version doesn't seem to include much new material.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Creative Onboarding Programs: Tools for Energizing Your Orientation Program


Revised, expanded, and up-to-the-minute—the leading guide to serving the modern organization's onboarding needs
It's a challenge overlooked by many: The need to bring recent hires into the fold, smoothly, effectively, and rapidly. And in this state-of-the-art multi-phased guide to integrating new employees into an organization, Doris Sims, longtime HR and onboarding guru again redefines the expectations of what effective HR training and succession management can do for your business.
Fully updated with new case studies of best practices from successful companies, Creative Onboarding is the edge your business needs.The most complete resource for helping employees do their best work from the minute they first walk in the door, this book delivers an arsenal of high-end strategies and skills, including:
Activities and checklists to help focus your onboarding efforts
Advice on designing and implementing programs for employees at any level that mesh with existing organizational cultures
The latest tools, technologies that create programs with impact
Ways to measure results-and make positive adjustments on the fly

In today's hyper-competitive business environment, seamless onboarding is an absolute necessity. And Creative Onboarding puts within easy reach the benefits of improved retention and performance, along with drastically reduced HR-related overhead.
Topics covered include: Designing New Employee Onboarding: Companies Who Do it Right • New Tools and Technologies to Make Your Program Fun and Memorable • Onboarding New Managers • Onboarding FAQs • and more

Click here for more information about Creative Onboarding Programs: Tools for Energizing Your Orientation Program

Feeding Your Leadership Pipeline: How to Develop the Next Generation of Leaders in Small to Mid-Sized Companies Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Dr. Tobin fills the gap for those organizations needing to keep their leadership pipeline going. He identifies the need and lays out the necessary thought process and actions to achieve success. Leadership is the critical ingredient making the difference in great organizations as compared to all the others. Smaller organizations now have the means to move to a whole new level. The challenge is getting organizations to realize the need to act. Get the book. It's well worth it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Feeding Your Leadership Pipeline: How to Develop the Next Generation of Leaders in Small to Mid-Sized Companies

There are a number of large companies that are well known for their leadership development efforts, but what model do smaller organizations follow? This title focuses on smaller companies, typically with up to 5,000 employees, and will provide a blueprint for a leadership development program for mid-level managers who have been identified as having high potential for future leadership positions in the company. It presents a menu of options and specific steps for each option that can be adapted by a small-to-midsized company to build a leadership pipeline.

Click here for more information about Feeding Your Leadership Pipeline: How to Develop the Next Generation of Leaders in Small to Mid-Sized Companies

Best Practices in Talent Management: How the World's Leading Corporations Manage, Develop, and Retain Top Talent (Pfeiffer Essential Resources for Training and HR Professionals) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Talent refers to the potential in people including perhaps a special aptitude or faculty. Unfortunately, often the talent in our organizations goes unnoticed, and this can have a disastrous effect on our need for creativity and innovation, especially during a moment of reckoning - when change is necessary. Given our fair share of economic challenges, a movement known as talent management has taken hold in the United States and is now spreading throughout the world to ensure that we take advantage of all the capacity that our human organizations have to offer.
Up to now, we haven't had a resource in one place that demonstrates some of the best ways (as authors Marshall Goldsmith and Louis Carter point out) to not just evaluate but to invest in talent. The new volume Best Practices in Talent Management published by Carter's Best Practice Institute carefully outlines fourteen well-documented cases illustrating proven tools, instruments, models, and practices for implementing top talent management in your own organization. You'll find in these exemplars a number of common attributes, such as an openness to learning, integrity, employee empowerment, a thirst for collaboration, and a recognition of people's intrinsic motivation - all well-established but not often practiced elements of the innovation process embedded in managing and retaining talent. It is thus destined to become a vital resource for all managers in the applied HR field.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Best Practices in Talent Management: How the World's Leading Corporations Manage, Develop, and Retain Top Talent (Pfeiffer Essential Resources for Training and HR Professionals)


Praise for Best Practices in Talent Management

"This book includes the most up-to-date thinking, tools, models, instruments and case studies necessary to identify, lead, and manage talent within your organization and with a focus on results. It provides it all-from thought leadership to real-world practice."
Patrick Carmichael
head of talent management, refining, marketing, and international operations, Saudi Aramco
"This is a superb compendium of stories that give the reader a peek behind the curtains of top notch organizations who have wrestled with current issues of talent management. Their lessons learned are vital for leaders and practitioners who want a very valuable heads up."
Beverly Kaye
Founder/CEO: Career Systems International and Co-Author,Love 'Em or Lose 'Em
"This is a must read for organization leaders and HR practitioners who cope with the today's most critical business challenge-talent management. This book provides a vast amount of thought provoking ideals, tools, and models, for building and implementing talent management strategies. I highly recommend it!"
Dale Halm
Organization Development Program Manager, Arizona Public Service ?
"If you are responsible for planning and implementing an effective talent and succession management strategy in your organization, this book provides the case study examples you are looking for."
Doris Sims
Author, Building Tomorrow's Talent
"A must read for all managers who wish to implement a best practice talent management program within their organization"
Fariborz Ghadar
William A. Schreyer Professor of Global Management, Policies and Planning Senior Advisor and Distinguished Senior Scholar Center for Strategic and International Affairs Founding Director Center for Global Business Studies

Click here for more information about Best Practices in Talent Management: How the World's Leading Corporations Manage, Develop, and Retain Top Talent (Pfeiffer Essential Resources for Training and HR Professionals)