In my forthcoming book, I speak a lot about creating capacity for a corporation, which is another term for corporate agility. One of the great tools at HR’s disposal I this regard is recruiting and/or talent acquisition, which I define as “the right people for tomorrow’s needs by staying ahead of the growth curve before it starts.” Companies today are facing this situation as we speak with one of the greatest population dilemmas of all time: the departure of the baby boomer and the onset of the millennial.

According to the Society for Human Resource Management, by next year a third of the U.S. workforce will be 50+ years old, an increase from 27 percent in 2007. Large percentages of gold standard Fortune 500 companies are now retiring, which means a large percentage of leadership will start to pass into the hands of Generation X.

On the other side of this coin is the expanse of millennials coming into the workplace. They are young and idealistic, driven more by changing the world than conquering the world business marketplace. According to a NetImpact survey, 83% of the 3,000 students polled would take a 15% salary cut to join a company that makes a difference in the world. They are hyper-connected and not motivated by the same things as the leadership leaving the workplace.

This means that not only can companies not immediately replace what they’re losing; they have to adapt to attract the new talent base entering their ranks. The talent problem is larger than just hiring the right people, it’s building the company that can grow and attract the new mix of business acumen and personality that will take them into the future.

This is where HR can truly stand up and stand out. We have all the knowledge at our fingertips to understand where the company needs to prepare for outgoing leadership so we know not only what the vacant seat does today, but what it needs to do in the next five to ten years. We also understand that for our organization to grow and adapt in a technologically disruptive, socially responsible world, we need to build the company of tomorrow to bring millennials into an environment in which they can thrive. We may have to break down some walls, we will have to change the way things are done, but no one else in the company is better suited to lead the charge for change than we are.

The marketplace is already changing, and for HR there is no better time than now to begin gathering information to craft the workplace of tomorrow. It will be here sooner than you think, and if we’re not ready we’ll be gone.

For media enquiries, please contact Emma De Maio, redheadPR, 07921 160 134, emma@redheadpr.co.uk.

Rita Trehan – Consultant/Chief Capacity Officer, Rita Trehan LL

Using data analysis, workshops, and proven change management strategies, Trehan creates respected organizations. She builds businesses by harnessing the power of emerging technologies, maximizing efficiencies, and operating at full capacity.

As a global HR leader at Honeywell and AES Corporation., Trehan helped rethink how business was done. From profitable ways to launch business units around the world to inspired means of measuring performance, she consistently improved strategic operations, saving time and money in the process.

Experienced in working with CEOs and senior management, Trehan can spot opportunities for organizational improvement and craft plans that align resources to maximum profitability and growth. Her involvement in transformative activities (mergers, large-scale international expansion, global market entry, organizational model revitalization) over many years means she offers a global perspective and a vast array of skills.

Trehan has led change management initiatives in more than 30 countries across five continents. She has enacted global sustainability reporting, safety, and performance improvement initiatives in 27 countries, delivering savings of more than $100million.

Trehan developed leadership programs with the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. These are available worldwide through universities in Ukraine, Brazil, Panama, Pakistan, Singapore, and Cameroon.

Trehan’s products and services include:

•    Diagnostic Tools – Through surveys, diagnostics, and personal interviews, Trehan evaluates the state of corporate teams and identifies opportunities for improvement across the organization. Clients receive an in-depth analysis along with an action plan and delivery strategy for improvement.

•    Board Membership/Advisory Services – Trehan works directly with boards and companies of all sizes to identify opportunities for improved performance.

•    Workshops – After diagnosis, Trehan holds a workshop to discuss the current state of affairs and create an action plan for changing the way business is done.

•    C-suite Strategy Meetings – Working with senior management at organizations of all sizes, Trehan explores ways to expand corporations by growing the capacity, gaining market share, and utilizing human resources like never before.

•    IT/Disruptor Transformation – Working with internal technology leaders, Trehan helps organizations through times of widespread IT platform change.

•    HR Capacity Transformation – Through her proprietary tool, The Capacity Framework, and the four dimensions of time-tested leadership acumen, Trehan helps HR leaders think like business owners.

•    Distribution Channels – Trehan works directly with clients, using outside consultants when needed. Surveys and Diagnostics can be made available prior to workshops, but a hands-on approach gets the best results.

Trehan is writing a book, “Capacity- How to Transform a Company Through Human Resources Leadership.” In it, she explores the importance of HR to organizational capacity and development rather than the current concentration on people-focused processes and programs. The book is being released in the early part of 2015.

As a sought-after speaker globally, Trehan has appeared at events such as CIPD Annual Conference and Exhibition, where she discussed reframing HR through changing mindsets. Alongside this, she contributes articles to esteemed publications such as Washington Post and has been ranked in the top 75 of chief Human Resources Officer by ExecRank, the list that recognises the world’s leading HR professionals.

Trehan is a member of the advisory board of EveryLayer, a company dedicated to bringing better, faster, cheaper broadband everywhere.

www.ritatrehan.com

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