The CEO As Talent Scout

Lesley Uren, CEO of talent management consultancy Jackson Samuel, says this is a classic example of small-business thinking.  "They see talent management as complicated and costly; something that large organisations do.  In fact, it can be simple and inexpensive.  Great talent development happens on the job, through project work, secondments and by asking people what they are interested in and finding out what they want to do.”  

Managed properly, this produces internal job candidates who are familiar with the business culture, as well as their own strengths and weaknesses.  These people are more likely to be successful in a new role.  

"The cost of external recruitment is high," adds Uren.  "CEOs who jump to that option are spending unnecessarily and risk the loss of valuable skills from the workforce."

The full article was originally published in Director Magazine in July 2007.