"Change before you have to "
- Jack Welch

Over the past 6 months or so, have you discovered that it’s becoming more difficult to recruit and retain world-class marketing talent? If not, I’m confident that you soon will.

Based on what I’m seeing in the employment marketplace, I wouldn’t be your ally if I failed to warn you about what’s happening. I was a CPG marketing recruiter in the '90s – and I see a talent war beginning now that will soon rival those candidate-driven, talent-starved years.

Ask any good recruiter who works in your industry – turnover and search activity is rapidly accelerating. The war for marketing talent is officially on again.

But maybe from where you sit things don’t seem to be headed in that direction. While I disagree, I can understand why you might be thinking that way.

After all, for most of us, isn’t the first response to unpleasant distractions to ignore or minimize them? The emotional pay off for doing this is compelling. It makes us feel more focused and in control.

Don’t be fooled. If you find yourself holding on to the belief that an increasing number of resignations and staffing challenges are just a distracting fluke that will soon pass – please recognize that this kind of thinking could help set the stage for a talent crisis within your company.

If you and your team hope to maintain your competitive position, you must recognize and respond to the changes now taking place before you have no choice.

Based on the lessons of past experience, I urge you to challenge old thinking within your organization and yourself – especially any of the following destructive beliefs:

1. There is no need to aggressively evaluate whom we are at risk to lose and why;

2. Unless we have open positions, it’s a waste of time to systematically develop relationships with potential candidates;

3. Staffing is not the marketing department’s problem; let HR take care of it.

If you and your team begin to confront and correct wrong-headed thinking like this now, you may gain a significant edge over your competition in the war for talent. Change now – before you have to.

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Resources We Like Peter F. Drucker was a legendary business thinker. Late last year I discovered a wonderful collection of his writings called The Daily Drucker: 366 Days of Insight and Motivation for Getting the Right Things Done. If you enjoy the wisdom of Drucker then this book is a must for your library. Check it out at Amazon.com. Comments on this section – or any part of this newsletter? Other resources that you recommend? I encourage you to email me directly at: slahey@laheyconsulting.com. I look forward to hearing from you! Lahey Consulting is a specialized search firm. We recruit and place brand management and marketing professionals (from associate brand manager to executive level) within consumer products companies throughout the United States. Lahey Consulting, LLC P.O. Box 395 Delmar, NY 12054-0395 www.laheyconsulting.com info@laheyconsulting.com Voice: 518-439-4285 Fax: 518-439-5795 Copyright © 2006 Lahey Consulting, LLC. All rights reserved. (However, you may reproduce this article if you include this copyright information and our web site address: www.laheyconsulting.com)