When we launched this blog in November, 2008 our initial focus was on our just-published book, Closing the Engagement Gap. We’ve enjoyed the experience — not just because of spirited discussions with a number of readers who’ve shared comments and questions — but also because it has affirmed for us that both the book, and the topic of engagement, are really just the tip of a much bigger iceberg: what it takes to unleash people’s skill, energy and talent and how to harness those for improved performance.
As we have worked with leadership teams over the past several months — and corresponded with many of you through this blog — we have heard a number of interesting stories about engagement in action. These interactions and stories make it clear that employee engagement is increasingly viewed as the critical connective tissue between effective human capital and talent management initiatives and overall company performance. It is both a driver (of improved performance) and an outcome (of outstanding leadership and talent management practices).
So we think the time is now right to cast a wider net and include leadership and talent management issues as additional core topics for our blog. We believe these are among the most critical concerns leaders must focus on for the foreseeable future. Organizations that make a high priority of developing leaders at all levels and building critical talent will not only navigate our current economic challenges more effectively than their peers, but also prepare their enterprises to leapfrog competitors as the economy recovers and swings into high gear.
Therefore, we want to welcome you to the next generation of our blog, and also introduce two of our colleagues who will join us in posting their thoughts and responding to your comments, questions and ideas.
Max Caldwell is Managing Principal of Towers Perrin’s Workforce Effectiveness practice, where he helps organizations develop and implement talent strategies to improve leadership capability, workforce engagement and business performance.
Tom Davenport is a Principal in Towers Perrin’s Workforce Effectiveness practice focusing on workforce strategy and measurement as well as manager effectiveness.
We look forward to lively exchanges with you, and among the four of us.
Thanks,
Don and Julie
