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Attracting and retaining top talent has become an increasingly challenging task in the current economic climate. With fierce competition and shifting workplace dynamics, traditional recruitment methods may fall short in capturing the attention and commitment of highly skilled professionals.
To navigate this landscape, businesses must adopt innovative strategies to stand out from the crowd and entice the best candidates to apply. Below, 17 Forbes Coaches Council members share creative, forward-thinking approaches organizations can embrace to attract top talent and build a resilient workforce, even in the face of economic uncertainty.
1. Focus On The Employee Experience
Treating your current employees well and truly focusing on the employee experience will help to attract top talent. So many times organizations look outward to find the answers or “creative new ways” of recruiting, when the focus should be on the fundamentals of taking great care of your people—so that they help attract the people you most need. - Stacey Engle, Stacey Engle Leadership Coaching
2. Sell The Security Of The Role
So many companies poached talent in 2020 and 2021, just to lay off employees in droves in late 2022 and into 2023. Businesses that can sell candidates on the opportunity itself and the security of the role will have a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Companies that faced recent layoffs are going to have a tougher time attracting top talent back, and for good reason. - Randi Braun, Something Major
3. Search For Top Talent In All Generations
Pursue top talent from all generations—the young talent in their 20s and 30s and the experienced talent in their 50s and 60s, especially women. The creative approach to blending the generations is your differentiator. Look no further than this year’s Oscars, which highlighted that 2023 is shaping up to be the “Year of the 50+ Woman.” Take the lead. - Linda Allen-Hardisty, Allen-Hardisty Leadership Group
4. Create Programs To Serve Top Talent In Various Ways
Economies cycle, and in going around, there are ups and downs that touch all organizations over time. To be competitive, an organization has to create programs that serve top talent in varied ways. That’s an entry price for top talent. To secure them, the organization, work, culture and day-to-day have to be experienced as fun. If they are, it reverberates and helps bring in the best. - David Yudis, Potential Selves
5. Offer Stability And Growth
In today’s environment, which is characterized by anxiety and uncertainty, offering a work environment that offers stability with growth is an ideal combination to attract top talent. Stability characterized by high psychological safety offers room for experimentation and innovation, while growth provides a platform for personal and professional development. - Gitanjali Saksena, LagomWorks
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6. Give Employees Ownership Of Their Growth
Help potential employees feel secure by giving them ownership of their growth. For instance, clarify what will happen when they perform at certain levels so that they expect to be treated well and to be rewarded for their efforts. You can also stand out by empowering potential employees to choose their preferred opportunities for growth, such as being allowed a yearly professional development allowance. - Vered Kogan, Momentum Institute
7. Invest In Continuing Professional Development
Skills are changing and employees want to feel like they are continuing to grow. Investing in their continuing professional development, sponsoring certifications, attending conferences or subsidizing professional membership costs or dues can be a differentiator in attracting top talent. - Michael Timmes, Insperity
8. Communicate The Larger Purpose Of The Business
Gone are the days when talent used to walk in through the door just for the paycheck. Given today’s economic climate and changed priorities, talent seeks a sense of purpose and an opportunity to learn and grow. Creating and communicating the larger purpose for which the business exists and co-creating learning and growth opportunities can go a long way in attracting and retaining top talent. - Sandeep Jain, Value-Unlocked Private Limited
9. Create A Culture That Appeals To Top Talent’s Needs
Attracting top talent is about understanding their needs and desires, which might be better hours, shift work or something else entirely, depending on the nature of your business. The best way to creatively attract top talent is to consider the culture within your organization, especially around remote work, start times and digital communications, such as Slack. - Vix Reitano, VixReitano.com
10. Provide A Clear Perspective On Growth Potential
The one creative way for a business to better attract top talent is to provide a clear perspective. Top talent is always motivated by growth. As a business, be very detailed in your description of the three “whats,” meaning what they must accomplish to get to the next management level, what the timeline looks like, and what the business’s expectations of them are along the way. - Alla Adam, Alla Adam Coaching
11. Allow Employees To Contributions And Have Influence
An attractive workplace is one where people can make their professional dreams come true. Companies that allow people to contribute and have influence in many areas are interesting for all employees. Enterprises that set new directions for industries and go beyond current business horizons draw the attention of top talents. Find a niche such as that, and it will bring you the best people. - Dominik Szot, MIA
12. Recognize The Value Each Employee Contributes
Today’s employees want more than just a paycheck—they want to feel like valued contributors who are making a difference. Make sure people at all levels understand what value their work adds, and frequently recognize their efforts to the bigger picture. - Stacey Ackerman, NavigateAgile
13. Invest In Areas That Will Enhance Team Members’ Skills
Focus on programs that will invest in your teams’ growth and development. All too often, these programs get cut when budgets and revenue start to shrink. If you want to attract and retain top talent, make sure you are investing in areas that will enhance team members’ skills. If they are top performers, then they want to be challenged. Make sure you are creating the right environment for them to succeed. - Bryan Powell, Executive Coaching Space
14. Fine-Tune Your Culture Design
One word sums up how to attract and retain top talent: culture. Fine-tune your culture design and execute to exceed expectations. Annually reevaluate talent compensation packages to ensure you are meeting key perceived needs. Perceived needs are shifting faster these days. Top performers move fast; move faster and nail your offering. Be ahead of the game—top performers are. - Carry Metkowski, Carry Metkowski
15. Offer Distinctive Perks And Incentives
Companies can offer distinctive perks and incentives that set them apart from their competitors. Some employers, for example, offer unlimited vacation, paid parental leave, on-site childcare or tuition reimbursement. Companies can attract high-level employees who are looking for more than just a paycheck by offering these types of benefits. - Andre Shojaie, HumanLearn
16. Create An Irresistible EVP
Make sure you have the best employee value proposition. Find out what matters most to the top talent you want to attract. Just as you got to know your ideal customer to create the perfect value proposition for them, get to know your ideal employee to create an irresistible EVP for them based on their needs and wants, rather than yours. - Rajeev Shroff, Cupela Consulting
17. Offer Flexible Hours And Remote Work
One creative way for a business to better attract top talent is to offer flexible working hours or remote work arrangements. This helps create an attractive workplace culture while ensuring employees have complete control over their time and lifestyle. Additionally, offering competitive perks, such as health insurance and retirement plans, will help differentiate your company. - Peter Boolkah, The Transition Guy
