No management seer has summed up more aptly the daunting prospect of operating in an unpredictable business environment than the late Yogi Berra: "The future," opined the baseball legend, "ain't what it used to be."

A mutable marketplace compels organizations to invest in an adaptive and progressive workforce: the key to successful adjustment lies in their "human capital".

Developing human capital to its highest potential so as to achieve the maximum return for the organization is the defining role of CPI/H&A "Talent Management" services. While talent management focuses primarily on the individual employee, assessing his or her readiness for new opportunities, projecting career paths and recommending programs for either accelerated learning or further skill development, the beneficiary is ultimately the overall organization. What CPI talent management provides is a catalyst for continuous improvement: Employees who believe in their own abilities to grow in stature and accomplishment are more likely to initiate ideas and create value for the organization.

In order for development programs to build successfully on employee competencies and replenish workforce gaps, organizations must have a clear picture of the current strengths and skill sets of each individual. Objective assessments and data ensure that development dollars are spent more wisely, and that every employee's role is ultimately connected to, and supports, the organization's vision and mandate.

Effective leaders radiate confidence, fairness and a passionate concern for continuous improvement that ripple outward into the organization. The rewards are tangible and range from employee loyalty to increased productivity. But how to recognize the individual who can initiate change, the associate with the gift for motivation, the administrative assistant whose analytical skills lie untapped? Assessment speeds up the discovery process, enabling fast trackers to achieve momentum and realize their creative potential unimpeded by constraints.

Best-practice organizations enlist the help of a third party in assessing their employees. Whereas managers and/or HR personnel may be “too close” to an individual to provide feedback in a neutral manner or be strapped for time, a third party brings a new, fresh perspective to a situation. CPI/H&A’s professional, trusted counselors are free of internal biases and are positioned to offer objective feedback in a constructive manner. All discussions remain confidential, reassuring participants that they may speak openly without fear of reprisal.

Engaging a third party for assessment also demonstrates that management is committed to its people and to developing its leaders internally. The message to managers, and to others within the organization who aspire to more senior roles, is that their careers and contribution are valued. On the flip side, the company improves its ability to retain and motivate talent, and burnishes its image to potential recruits as a "best in class" learning organization

CPI/H&A services for high-potential candidates include reliable assessments by professionals and industrial psychologists who identify training areas for the greatest gain potential and recommend development programs to accelerate learning for the employee. CPI/H&A professionals provide these services in partnership with organizations and in the context of the organization’s goals.

Services for high potential employees, conducted by CPI/H&A in confidentiality, include:

• Objective assessment via psychometric and psychological testing, 360 degree assessment and in-depth, behavioural interviews
  
• Cross-cultural assessment and training
  
• Skill development training
  
• Executive Coaching
  
  

Not all employees want to be the next president, but most subscribe to life-long learning and working to their full potential. Companies that invest in a learning culture rely on talent management programs to ensure that their employees thrive in today’s challenging environment. Best-practices organizations recognize that life pressures combined with work responsibilities can unduly burden an employee. Providing a workshop in stress management or a session in balancing family needs and office responsibilities empowers the individual to seek out solutions on his or her own and to benefit the organization.

CPI/H&A's professional staff assess employee competencies and identify areas for greatest growth potential, while clarifying the individual's work preferences and values. Our consultants also evaluate the employee's alignment with his or her job. The resulting data are provided to the employee, who collaborates with the CPI/H&A professional on a development program that will maximize his or her ability to contribute to the organization. Studies confirm that employees whose skills match their will, and who are in alignment with their organization, are top performers.

Services and programs for individuals who strive for personal success include:

• Objective assessment via psychometric and psychological testing, 360 degree assessment; and in-depth behavioural interviews
  
• Cross-cultural assessment and training
  
• Introspective exercises
  
• Work/Life balance training
  
• Skill development training
  
• Career Coaching
  
  

Often referred to as "alternate deployment," in-placement is the repositioning of an employee whose skill sets and experience no longer correspond to a revised job description, or who becomes redundant in a restructured organization. Such employees represent a wealth of organizational knowledge and are acculturated to the company's way of doing business. CPI/H&A professional consultants assess and re-align these employees within the organization, boosting their motivation and productivity while allowing the company to retain and nurture its intellectual capital.

The ideal in-placement experience is when a new job is created in the organization and the employee remains productive and fully engaged. Organizational knowledge is retained; the emotional disruption and expenses of severance are avoided. The company communicates to all employees its commitment and concern for their well-being. In the event that CPI/H&A consultants determine, through rigorous assessment, that no opportunity exists in the organization for the "status quo" employee, the individual in question is still in an advantageous position to begin a job search.

CPI/H&A also assists individuals whose productivity has diminished, and whose function has become obsolete. Following an objective assessment, CPI/H&A professionals will recommend whether the employee can find alignment within the new organizational structure or would benefit from career transition services.

Managing a diverse workforce compels us to operate in an environment that is culturally sensitive and complex. Assumptions and misunderstandings in such a workplace can compromise productivity and interrupt the flow of business.

CPI/H&A cross-cultural training programs help employees and managers to handle cultural differences so that the organization can profit from cultural diversity. Services include preparing expatriates for success in their foreign assignments, training senior managers and HR professionals on how to manage workforces that are culturally diverse, training and coaching new Canadian employees in their job search and career management, and preparing sales representatives for marketing and selling to prospects and clients in unfamiliar cultures.

Organizations that invest in executive coaching are their own best PR agents. Besides positioning themselves as a "best in class" organization devoted to employee development, which can attract a more discriminating level of recruit, the "Coaching-Savvy" organization exerts a seductive pull on its internal workforce, who are liberated and empowered. In turn, employees who enjoy the fruits of coaching are better equipped to handle multiplying responsibilities in an overloaded, adapting organization. And the organization benefits.

Career Partners International/Hazell & Associates (CPI/H&A) is a leading management consulting firm with more than 24 years of experience helping organizations maximize human effectiveness.

We have worked in partnership with over 750 organizations of all sizes and in all industries and sectors. Our team of expert consultants employs proven assessment and skill development techniques to evaluate employee potential and identify realistic career paths and opportunities. Whether we are partnering with a high-potential manager or a mid-level employee striving for self-improvement, both the individual and the organization benefit.