Talent Generation: How Visionary Organizations Are Redefining Work and Achieving Greater Success

by Sarah L. Sladek

Welcome to the Talent Economy a 21st-century economy characterized by unprecedented innovation, connectivity, disruption, and opportunity.

Unfortunately, the positive attributes of the Talent Economy have been largely overshadowed thus far by the continual decline of employee job satisfaction, employee turnover costing organizations billions of dollars, shrinking profitability, and the Boomer retirement wave.

The need to engage younger generations of talent is widespread and urgent. Our leadership is aging and the skills gap continues to grow. The impetus to close the widening disparity between talent- development practices and business impact has never been greater.

For too long, we've just assumed there is no other way. But clearly there is another way.

It's Talent Generation.

Drawing from documented workforce and talent-development research, as well as her own ongoing study of generational impacts, Sarah Sladek cites numerous examples of organizations that have been capable of engaging employees in this era of disruption what they did, why it worked, and how it's made a difference to the organizations outlook and bottom line.

She proves that it's possible to create an organization designed to engage talent, and she provides guidance to do it.

Her book equips organizations with the much-needed insights to make smart, confident, future-focused workforce decisions.

252 pages, Hardcover

Published July 31, 2017

About the author

Sarah L. Sladek is a best-selling author, sought-after speaker, and CEO who has dedicated her career to helping organizations create cultures of relevance and belonging. Her mission is to deliver the strategy and next-gen intelligence organizations need to curb turnover, disengagement, and decline. Organizations worldwide have sought Sarah's expertise to engage younger generations, increase relevance and competitiveness, and realize growth. She's been referred to as a social equity expert, and recognized as a a Global Leader in Strategy, Talent Economy Influencer, and Woman Who Advances Associations.

Sarah's two decades of research on generations and social change and their influences on engagement behaviors is unparalleled. In addition to authoring books and leading research, she is the founder of a strategy development and training firm, a renowned keynote speaker, podcaster, and web show host. She volunteers her time serving on boards of non-profits benefitting women and youth. Backed by years of experience and supported by solid research, Sarah remains committed to helping organizations plan for their futures and prosper in the new economy.

Sarah is the author of MemberShift (2023), Talent Generation (2017), Knowing Y (2014), The End of Membership As We Know It (2011), Rock Stars Incorporated (2008), and The New Recruit (2007).

Reviews

[Marcie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last fall I reread Ms. Sladek's The End of Membership as We Know It and read Knowing Y: Engage the Next Generation Now to prepare for a membership think tank. I was first introduced to Ms. Sladek at a 2015 international conference in which she was a keynote speaker. As one of the few Generation X members in attendance and noticing that there were even fewer Generation Y members, I quickly realized that I needed to learn more about what attracts different generations to membership and engage in the discourse and the redefining and realigning necessary to sustain an organization that I committed.

Just a few months before the think tank, Ms. Sladek's Talent Generation was published. I purchased it for the plane ride to and from the think tank and was able to read 2/3 of it, but life intervened, and it got shelved even though its tenets were referenced and discussed often.

Talent Generation adds a sixth economy, the talent economy, to the preceding Knowing Y, and although the it focuses more on attracting and retaining workplace talent, its principles can be applied to association and organization membership.

For those interested in future-focused decision-making that will engage the talent generation in a people-centric, long-term manner, Sarah Sladek's newest book is a must read. At minimum, it educates its readers about the different generational shifts, thereby, hopefully, preventing ageist cliches, no matter what generation one belongs.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected more case studies and analysis of successful and unsuccessful strategies than what was actually presented since the book's tagline is "how visionary organizations are redefining work and achieving greater success." There also wasn't much presentation on the success component, perhaps because it's still too early to tell whether any of the strategies will be successful. A more fitting title for this book would've been why talent generation is necessary. It does a good job of dissecting the change that has happened as technological advances, demographic shifts, and differing generational values collide.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once of the best books I've read about engaging Millennials, especially through the view of associations. Each chapter has a summary at the end and discussion questions to put the new information into practice. Will likely read again to try to absorb more of the goods.

[Kim Paugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of generational issues in the workplace. The discussion questions at the end of each chapter and the charts that compare the previous work style to the new Talent Economy are worth your time even if some of the other concepts in the book have been told countless times.