Web 2.0 - Talent Management

So there is a war on - or is there?  Regardless of the severity of finding great people, it's tough.  If it wasn't, the recruitment industry would not exist?  Right? Maybe?

Anyway, it is hard to find great people; that much I know. 

The logistics industry is highly competitive and not so many years ago, not only was collaborative a word they didn't know, but if they did they would not do it - collaborate that is.  But now, we have shared loads, back returns etc.  Basically, if Driver A drives to City X with a full load, he is most likely to be coming back empty.  Not anymore, he may be picking up a load for a competitor, and getting paid for it.  He may not get a great rate, but at least he is not empty.  The competitor of course gets the load collected at a lower cost than sending their own vehicle (empty) to do a two-way journey to collect it.  The customer may also get a quicker delivery and, at a lower rate.  Everyone wins.

So, what if a number of organisations started to share talent?  But they don't have enough I hear you shout!  Football (soccer to some!) teams do it to 1) Share the cost and 2) Keep that person in their team rather than them leave elsewhere.

So if you have a great store manager, who wants to progress but you don't have a opportunity for him/her in the right area, then in time, off they go.  What if one of your 'network' had a position for them, albeit still on your payroll.  It could be a way of giving your employees more choice, chances to go elsewhere without leaving, learn new skills they could bring back etc.  They may even get to realise the grass is not as green as expected or, they/you may find out a lot of new information about what the store manager really wants to do.  They may still leave anyway, but they may not.  It could be that you gain some managers from your 'network'.  What if you both have different peaks - what cost savings could there be then?

Would IBM share their employees with Tesco?  Or Google with Sun?  Or does it need to be more like Sainsbury's and Mothercare or IBM and Google so they are at least in similar sectors.  Then again, an IT person going from financial services to retail could be really useful for everyone. 

Of course most companies will say 'Nah, wouldn't work, why would we share our best talent'.  But what about the people.  What about the long tail, the user, the community.  What if the employee comes mob handed.  Maybe they create work groups and they share roles to suit them.  What then.  What if the tail wags back. 

'Hey, manager dude, we are not one but four.  We'll get the job done better and faster than before, with no unskilled holiday cover or attitude.'

Do you need a great manager or a great individual?  A team is better than an individual more often than not.  So think hard before you say no - the choice may not be yours.  And if they will leave anyway what have you actually got to lose?  How much great talent have you lost forever but would welcome back?  Maybe you did not need to lose them in the first place!

Beware the long tail talent - it's happening in a company near you today!!!