SmartHCM

talent management

What is talent management?

Talent management encompasses all HR processes and strategies to attract, develop, motivate, and retain high-performing employees. The primary aim is to drive performance through integrated people management practices. Let’s break this definition down:

  • HR processes: Talent management is about a set of HR processes that integrate with each other. It goes beyond individual HR functions. A talent management strategy requires a holistic outlook on these processes to maximize its potential.
  • Key focus areas: Talent management touches on all key functions of HR, including recruitment and selection, learning and development, performance management, tailoring the employee experience, rewards, and optimizing workforce planning and strategy. 
  • Employee performance: The ultimate goal of talent management is to improve performance. This is best achieved by creating a system that motivates and engages employees to perform to the best of their abilities. When it’s done right, companies can build a sustainable advantage and outperform competitors through an integrated system of talent management practices that are hard to copy and/or imitate.

HR professionals are primarily responsible for leading talent management efforts. They must develop and implement talent management strategies that align with organizational goals, culture, and values. They must also identify, develop, and evaluate talent pipelines and provide ongoing training and development opportunities for employees at all levels.

Talent management, however, is a collaborative effort that requires the involvement of managers, supervisors, and executives. These individuals provide support and resources to enable the successful implementation of talent management practices.