WHY IT MATTERS: Digital Transformation

12 TIPS TO SURVIVE THE TALENT CRISIS

Proven Advice from CIOs and HR Leaders

1. Ensure team members feel they’re part of something greater than themselves
2. Invest in coaching, mentoring, training—one CIO said he’ll cut headcount before he cuts his training budget. Curt Carver, CIO at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, sets aside 3 percent of his budget for training, “no matter what”
3. Hire less for skills and more for emotional maturity and the ability to learn and change
4. Offer interesting opportunities, such as working with the latest technologies or creating an application that will make a real di erence in customers’ lives
5. Rethink the org chart and keep it flexible—Carver redesigns his every 12 to 18 months
6. Redesign work around projects rather than roles, then tap into nontraditional sourcing methods such as crowdsourcing and talent platforms; not everything needs to be done by an FTE
7. Use social media and speaking events to find and engage top talent
8. Use open source as a magnet for talent by having your team become part of (and contribute to) the community
9. Create affiliations with colleges/universities (course design, internships, etc.) and even K-12
10. Invest in diversity programs that go beyond filling your corporate social responsibility requirements— for example, retaining women returning to the workforce or hiring individuals with autism
11. Build a strong collaborative relationship between IT and HR
12. Be clear about what you’re offering upfront (culture, mission, type of projects), and then be consistent in delivering that