This Week In Talent (25 October 2024)

TA Leaders Investing in Themselves

I’ve had an absolute blast putting this together and hope you’ve found a few valuable nuggets along the way. As we wrap up the month, I want to focus on something crucial: TA Leaders investing in their own development. With all the responsibilities we juggle, making time for personal growth can easily slip through the cracks, but it’s more important than ever.

Make Time for Yourself

TA leadership roles are demanding. That’s a fact. Years ago, during Agile training, I learned one vital lesson: schedule time for yourself. Now, I put at least an hour in my calendar each week that’s just for me. No meetings, no emails—just time to think, reflect, and learn.

The act of pausing can be powerful. Don’t underestimate the benefits of stopping what you’re doing and giving yourself mental space. Many of my biggest “what if…” or “aha!” moments have come from this deliberate stillness. It’s when you clear the noise that innovation happens.

Prioritise and Delegate

We, as TA leaders, don’t need to do everything ourselves. Delegation is not only about lightening your load but also empowering your team to grow. As leaders, we’re also mentors—so delegate responsibilities that can enhance your team’s development. Look at tasks like:

  • TA projects
  • Content creation for Employer Branding (EB)
  • Hiring manager training sessions

You don’t need to be at the centre of every initiative. Empowering your team by delegating these responsibilities will not only allow you to focus on more strategic work but will also strengthen your team’s capabilities. At the recent ATC conference, we saw numerous vendors offering tech and AI solutions to save TA teams’ time. There’s plenty of day-to-day work that you can entrust to your team, giving them opportunities to hone their skills.

Don’t Take on Other People’s Responsibilities

It’s easy to slip into a mode where you take on tasks that should sit with others—whether it’s a team member’s responsibility or something that belongs to the business. Resist the urge to overextend yourself.

I was recently pointed in the direction of an article from Harvard Business Review titled “Who’s Got the Monkey?” (a must-read, you can google it). It offers a clear message: if it’s not your responsibility, don’t take it on. That’s not just to preserve your own bandwidth, but also to maintain clear lines of accountability. Make sure you, your team, and the business are aligned on who owns what. Doing so will help you focus your energy where it matters most.

Focus on High-Impact Activities

One of the most impactful changes I’ve made recently has been ensuring that the activities I spend my time on offer maximum return. With every task or meeting, ask yourself: is this aligned with my strategic goals? This advice was echoed by several speakers at ATC who emphasised the importance of aligning the TA strategy with the broader organisational vision. Do you know your company’s 3-5 year strategy? Are your efforts in TA moving the needle in that direction?

Another hot topic at ATC was hiring for skills. Have you started having conversations with your business leaders about the evolving skill requirements in their business units? The shelf life of skills is rapidly shrinking, and these conversations need to happen now if you want to future-proof your organisation’s talent pipeline.

Stay Future-Focused

As TA leaders, we’re responsible for not only filling current roles but also preparing for what’s next. That means staying ahead of trends like skill obsolescence, automation, and shifting workforce demands. Ensure you’re building a talent strategy that is agile enough to respond to the changing landscape. Look at where the business is headed, and tailor your talent acquisition approach accordingly.

 

Links to consider this week:


Jenna from ATC here –  this week, we’re sharing some excellent thought leadership from some of our ATC2024 sponsors to jog your memory of all the resources available. Thanks to all who made the Expo hall at ATC2024 so full of interesting solution providers and innovative talent tech – we couldn’t have done it without you. 

Closing the (skills) Gap

Unlock the secrets to future-proofing your workforce with Indeed’s Skillfully Aligned report, offering insights into overcoming skill gaps and implementing upskilling strategies. Learn from industry leaders and stay ahead in a competitive market by mastering skills-based hiring and preparing for tomorrow’s job demands.

Beyond the resume

Discover how skills-based hiring is transforming the workforce with Eightfold AI’s “Beyond the Résumé” report. Learn how organisations can close skills gaps, upskill employees, and adopt future-ready talent strategies to stay competitive in a rapidly changing market.

Shape your Workforce for 2024 and beyond 

Check out Hays’ “Future of Work” report to see how businesses in Australia are adapting to new technologies and changing workforce needs. Learn how employers are addressing shifts in work culture and employee expectations to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving job market.

Global Made Possible

G-P (Globalization Partners) helps companies easily expand and manage their workforce globally without setting up foreign entities. If you’re thinking about a global move, grab a heap of their thought leadership materials, global employment research, and case studies to get your brain ticking.

The ROI of AI

AI was such a hot topic at ATC2024. Paradox’s e-book explores how AI can help organisations reduce costs, improve efficiency, and streamline hiring processes. It includes insights from case studies like General Motors, showcasing the real-world benefits of AI-driven recruitment. Have a squiz and learn more.

5 Essential Metrics for data-driven hiring 

PageUp gives you the lowdown on the numbers that matter most for nailing your 2024 recruitment game. From sorting the best sourcing channels to boosting offer acceptance rates, this one’s a must-read for keeping your hiring sharp.

Staffing talent from growing economies 

Zoho’s blog shows explores how hiring talent from growing economies like India can give your team an edge, with a pool of top-notch, adaptable professionals ready to go. It’s all about finding the right skills from across the globe to boost your business.

Understanding Millenials in the workplace 

Millenials, unite! Have a listen to this 11 minute podcast exploring what Millenials are looking for in their next role (and if you are one, see if you can relate).

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