Following his keynote session at Skillsoft and SumTotal EMEA Perspectives, David Wilson, talks about transforming talent in the modern workforce.

There is so much happening in the macro environment that affects what HR and learning professionals are doing within their organisations. And they are all pretty much out of our control. Technology, politics, and changing generations are just three factors that are having fundamental impacts on the workforce of today – and tomorrow.

And all of these factors represent major challenges for the acquisition, development, and retention of talent. People look for jobs in different ways today. They take roles based on evolving benefits – salary isn’t the only driver in today’s world of employer rankings and reviews for example. And it is no longer all about simple career progression either. Other aspects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and flexibility are becoming almost as important. One blue chip company I spoke to recently had graduates who have been in the job for just two years requested sabbaticals…I have been working for 30 years and still have yet to take a sabbatical!

Fosway Skillsoft SumTotal: Talent Management Research Into The Modern WorkforceBut having said that, generational stereotypes can be more harmful than helpful. Sometimes, I feel like the world’s oldest millennial, based on the clichés that are often thrown around about Gen Y in the workplace. Lazily grouping your people together based on their age isn’t going to help tackle these broader challenges. A more strategic view is needed to understand what will motivate and engage your people once they join your organisation. And from a stakeholder perspective, HR and L&D need to balance today’s requirements against future skills gaps and evolving organisational capabilities. No easy task!

In my keynote session at this year’s EMEA Perspectives, I exclusively revealed insights from new research that Fosway Group has conducted in partnership with Skillsoft and SumTotal. With over 400 participants from across EMEA, the data is telling some interesting stories, and we are excited to share the results and our insights on how to transform talent in today’s modern workforce.