The Talent Advantage

Acknowledgments
Introduction
About the Authors

Chapter 1
Why Leaders Must Fight the Battle
Human Resources is to Talent Search as Airplane Food is to Fine Dining
Strong leaders attract strong people
Threatened subordinates sink the ship
Staff functions are, well, staff functions
Would YOU be hired by your own HR department today?

Chapter 2
The Five Failings of Non-Extraordinary Leaders (and their cures)
The Leaders' Dysfunctions Become Everyone's Dysfunctions
Priorities: Not making the priority list
Assessment: Not knowing it if you tripped over it
Exemplar: Setting the wrong example (cognitive dissonance)
Connections: Career development divorces succession planning
Women: Not understanding male filters

Chapter 3
The Three Priorities of the Talent-Seeking Leader
How to Accelerate and Simplify the Search for Top People
Winning the war for talent: People
Strategy development: Involving the right people
Strategy execution: Creating a culture of accountability for results

Chapter 4
Talent is More Than Pure Performance
We're Not Talking About Performing Seals
What is talent and why does it matter?
The difference between good and outstanding
Talent 'outs'
Assessing your resources: The talent test

Chapter 5
The Semi-Renewable Resource
You Can Replant Trees, but Talent Doesn't Grow so Easily
If talent were readily renewable, every company would be excellent
Trees don't move, talent does
Talent isn't forever - it can obsolesce
The last thing you need is parity

Chapter 6
Talent Is Attracted, Not Recruited
The Myths of Corporate Recruiting
Competing by dollars is silly and expensive
Why 'most desired' lists don't matter
Maximizing application of talent drives up attraction
'Shanghaied' sailors eventually mutiny

Chapter 7
Competitive Advantage Is All Around You
Talent Builds Advantage From the Inside Out
Approaching the marketplace from a position of strength
The value of a strong bench
The power of human and intellectual capital
Why talent is often subsumed

Chapter 8
The Process of Retaining Talent
Attraction is Useless Without Nurturing and Development
Nonfi nancial incentives and motivators
Inclusion
The dynamic of skills, experience, knowledge, and behavior
Emotional connections

Chapter 9
The Aerodynamics of Leadership
Creating an Arrow and not a Flying Barn
You may be on the horse, but do you know where it's going?
Strategy as a daily guide and filter
Accepting dissent but not rebellion
Micro- and macro-managing

Chapter 10
Counterintuitive Development
Focusing on Top Talent, not Remedial Help
Minimizing dysfunctional human resource investments
Recognizing the all-stars
Creating accountabilities for development
Sharing success and credit

Chapter. 11
Six Strategies to Win the War for Talent
Winning Mere Battles is Insufficient
Create a leadership style that is consistent and transparent
Create accountabilities for talent creation and retention down the line to attract, retain, and develop talent
Marry career development and succession planning
Become the leading advocate and avatar for top talent acquisition

View talent holistically, embracing life balance
Accept nothing less than extraordinary leadership and talent

Index