We have all been there. You are at a cocktail party standing quietly in the corner of the room watching everyone else talk loudly to each other. Everyone around you is in large groups chatting away as though they have been friends for years. As you glance around nervously, you notice the relaxed look on their faces as they hold conversations about all manner of subjects, yet nobody is talking to you. You take another small sip out of the same glass you have been nursing for the past 30 minutes and start making excuses for why you really do not want to be there, "I'm tired", "I'm not in the mood", and "I'm no good at networking anyway". After just a few short minutes, you have managed to convince yourself to put down the nearly finished glass and make a sneaky exit. Does this sound familiar? Well, the solution to this common problem is lying right in your very hands.
There will be thousands of people involved in next month's Olympics in Beijing. While the vast majority of them will have a strong overriding objective in mind, these objectives will all differ tremendously. For instance, the organisers will be hoping for a smoothly organised event that will showcase China to the world. On the sports field, a select few of the athletes involved will have their eyes fixed firmly on a gold medal. Some may be striving to reach the podium or just to make it to the final stages of their event. And, others will simply be trying to stay in the competition as long as they can. No matter exactly what their objective is, for everyone involved in this prestigious event, their Olympic fortnight will be dominated and defined by striving to reach their goals.
If you are an HR leader in China now, or you hope to be one soon, the way in which you answer this question could change your life. If you are struggling to answer, do not worry. This is the first in a series of articles in which I will examine and explain the ins and outs of Strategic Talent Management (STM). As this is the first article, it may be a little heavy on theory. However, stick with me. The next few pages will be very informative and, over the next few issues of Network HR, we will look at some of the action steps you can take to become an STM leader.
In less than six months, the Olympic Games will hit Beijing. From August 8 to 24, athletes from across the globe will compete in their respective sports on the ultimate stage. Many will be doing so for the first time, whilst others will enjoy their second, third, and even fourth outing in the sporting world's greatest event. However, whether they are fresh-faced first-timers or seasoned veterans, they all have one goal in mind - to perform at their peak come August. Athletes train for years in order to reach the levels of fitness and technique required to qualify for the Olympics. Their training in the months preceding the big event will focus on helping them deliver a ‘peak performance' when it really matters.
A friend of minerecently told me that he was addicted to endorphins. I was a little surprisedat how excited he was about this. I asked him exactly how being addicted toanything could be a good thing. He responded with great energy and enthusiasm,saying that discovering something new gave him a massive endorphin ‘rush',which made his brain want to learn more and more.
There will be thousands of people involved in
next month's Olympics in Beijing. The vast majority of these will have a strong
overriding objective in mind. These objectives will all differ tremendously.
For instance, the organisers will be hoping for a smoothly organised event that
will showcase China to the world.Read More
Legal
Recruitment Transparency
In the last issue of Network HR, Allan Nee of Baode Law in Tianjin wrote a detailed and insightful article about the ways in which your organisation needs to adapt to China's new Labour Laws. Allan offered a myriad of fantastic advice. However, there was one factor he mentioned that really captured my attention - transparency.Read More
Benefits
The Power of Acknowledgement
he seeds of this article were sewn as I put together the last edition of Network HR. First, as I edited the Training & Development section, I read the following prophetic words from Jennifer Peterson, "If you want your customers to feel cared for, you must care for the employees that serve them." This started me musing about the way organisations across China treat employees.Read More
Training
Synchronicity for Success
A single droplet of sweat trickled down my neck as the glowing amber sun beat down on us. I glanced out of the corner of my eye and saw our competitors lined up alongside us. It was the moment we had been preparing for over the last 5 years. Our goal was crystal clear and I had visualised this very occasion countless times.Read More
Recuitment
War, what is it good for?
I believe I can bring the War for Talent to a peaceful end. I came to this realisation two
months ago after I was invited to present at the ‘Corporate Travel and Technology
World' conference in Shanghai. The topic, "Selecting Potential Leaders and Turning a Company from Good to Great", was
provided some months earlier, giving me time to source opinions from
around China. Read More
There will be thousands of people involved in
next month's Olympics in Beijing. The vast majority of these will have a strong
overriding objective in mind. These objectives will all differ tremendously.
For instance, the organisers will be hoping for a smoothly organised event that
will showcase China to the world.Read More
In the last issue of Network HR, Allan Nee of Baode Law in Tianjin wrote a detailed and insightful article about the ways in which your organisation needs to adapt to China's new Labour Laws. Allan offered a myriad of fantastic advice. However, there was one factor he mentioned that really captured my attention - transparency.Read More
he seeds of this article were sewn as I put together the last edition of Network HR. First, as I edited the Training & Development section, I read the following prophetic words from Jennifer Peterson, "If you want your customers to feel cared for, you must care for the employees that serve them." This started me musing about the way organisations across China treat employees.Read More
A single droplet of sweat trickled down my neck as the glowing amber sun beat down on us. I glanced out of the corner of my eye and saw our competitors lined up alongside us. It was the moment we had been preparing for over the last 5 years. Our goal was crystal clear and I had visualised this very occasion countless times.Read More
I believe I can bring the War for Talent to a peaceful end. I came to this realisation two
months ago after I was invited to present at the ‘Corporate Travel and Technology
World' conference in Shanghai. The topic, "Selecting Potential Leaders and Turning a Company from Good to Great", was
provided some months earlier, giving me time to source opinions from
around China. Read More
In less than six months, the Olympic Games will hit 
