This Week's Herman Trend Alert The Near-term Future of Global Travel

The Herman Trend Alert February 1, 2006 Small is Big: Workforce Focus Economic development professionals know that job growth comes from small business, not large employers. While attracting a new facility from a well-known corporation is good for community morale and certainly has positive economic impact, nurturing small and mid-sized business can generate more jobs with greater stability. Over the years, we have experienced substantial layoffs by large companies. When hundreds or thousands of people lose their jobs unexpectedly because of corporate restructuring, new technology, outsourcing, offshoring, or poor management, the ripple effect can be dramatic. Smaller employers are also forced into layoff situations from time to time, often caused by sudden drops in business from large company customers. They tend to avoid laying off people, however; each team member is more important to the smaller employer. Attitudes toward human capital are understandably different in smaller organizations. That attitude, and the opportunity to play a more significant role, appeals to people who want to be involved, who seek meaningful work, who want to make a difference. Mix in today’s emerging values centered on life-work balance, personal engagement with work, and being able to choose where you work, and smaller employers become very attractive. Result: those companies will be able to employ high-caliber talent that was not as available in the past. Superstars who sought glamorous jobs in major corporations will show a preference for smaller companies instead. This shift, just at the beginning stage, will be exciting and challenging for smaller employers. They will have access to top talent---in most cases without having to engage outside recruiters---and will not have to pay exorbitant salaries to get them. The smaller company opportunities will be an offsetting compensation. At the same time, selecting the right people to bring on board---at the right time and for the right reasons---will be beyond the capability of many of these employers. Managing them will be almost overwhelming---like having wild stallions pulling a wagon designed for farm-bred horses. Expect smaller employers to retain search firms and other outside consultants to help select and manage strong new employees coming out of an eager talent pool. © Copyright 1998- by The Herman Group, Inc. -- reproduction for publication is encouraged, with the following attribution: From "The Herman Trend Alert," by Roger Herman and Joyce Gioia, Strategic Business Futurists. (800) 227-3566 or http://www.hermangroup.com. The Herman Trend Alert is a trademark of The Herman Group, Inc." ARE YOU READY FOR THE RECOVERY? Most employers are unprepared. The recovery next year will bring a new set of challenges for employers that have been in prolonged contracted mode. They will need more skilled workers or will need now to begin to upskill their current staffs. But organizations can not engage in Strategic Workforce Planning, when they don't know how. That's where The Herman Group can help. We can help you with your "People Review"----large or small---so that you will know who you will need and when you will need them. . . and we can also guide you to the best sources for the people you will need. For more information, call Joyce at 336.210.3548 or e-mail joyce@hermangroup.com. GOOD SELECTION = BETTER RETENTION If you are not using pre-employment assessments, you are flying without radar---not very smart in today's highly competitive environment. Let us help you better understand your candidates and your employees. In less than 30 minutes, you will know if they can do the job (abilities); their work behaviors, even their personality and attitudes (like integrity & ethics), and those can't be trained. It's very cost effective, too! For more information, contact Joyce at 336-210-3548 or e-mail assessments@hermangroup.com. Validated for many countries and cultures. We offer in-depth help with job descriptions, too! http://www.hermangroup.com/assessments.html IS YOUR EMPLOYER AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE®? Our effective, onsite seminars, workshops, and consulting can help you get there. We offer 1-, 2-, 3-hour, and full-day programs to help you communicate what it takes to become an Employer of Choice® and inspire your folks to get it done. In the future, being an Employer of Choice® will not be optional. Call Carol at 336-210-3547 to arrange a no-obligation conference call. Now announcing an opportunity in Africa (Ghana). E-mail info@EmployerOfChoice.com for more information. Herman Trend Alerts are produced by the Herman Group, strategic business futurists, Certified Management Consultants, authors, and professional speakers. New subscribers are welcome. There is no charge for this public service. 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