Editor’s Note: Dr. John Sullivan has been a provocateur and strategist in the field of human resources and talent management for over 30 years. His specialty is HR strategy and designing world class HR systems and tools for Fortune 200 firms, and he’s never been shy about telling it like it is.
That’s why TLNT asked him to share his thinking in a video series titled “$#*!@ Dr. John Sullivan Says!” Look for these videos twice a week here at TLNT.
Today’s topic: What is talent management?
Dr. John defines talent as having “extraordinary skills,” but as he points out, there are many people who don’t have extraordinary talent. “So,” he adds, “you need to prioritize how HR, or talent management, handles top talent, top performers, game changers, innovators.”
What organizational functions does he put into the talent management basket? For Dr. John, they include:
- retention;
- recruiting;
- development;
- internal movement; and (sometimes),
- performance management.
The key, Dr. John says, “is you bring in good people, you keep good people, you make them better, and then you move them correctly.” And, he talks about a company that is renowned for its best practices when it comes to talent management.