Talent mapping for succession planning.

Talent mapping gives businesses a strategic way to recruit employees, especially for high-level positions. It’s a long-term approach used to attract the best talent and involves looking at the competition as well as top individual performers in any given field. Many companies now include aspects such as talent mapping and succession planning in their workforce planning. 

Identifying crucial positions

Just about every business has indispensable or crucial roles. While top and middle management roles are typically crucial and need to be filled quickly, most companies will take the time to appoint the best candidate and not the first available. It is important to go through the entire hierarchy to identify all such crucial positions. Businesses can do well by cross-training employees to deal with such contingencies, and it also gives existing employees some indication of what their future might hold. 

The role of talent mapping

Talent mapping gives a business the means to identify its future human resource requirements. It takes into account the viability of filling these requirements by turning to existing employees. Creating strategic plans helps identify and fill any noticeable gaps in the natural flow of command. Talent mapping also helps identify potential external candidates that can fill important positions, should they have a requirement for an upcoming project or executive position. 

Identifying and evaluating possible successors

Finding candidates for high-performing roles requires aligning role-specific requirements with possible candidates’ skill sets as well as personality and behavioural traits. If suitable successors are found within an organization, the role of grooming and developing them rests on the shoulders of the company’s leadership and upper management. It is also their responsibility to evaluate all external candidates, should the need arise. 

By identifying internal and external talent in advance, businesses can tide through any change in leadership easily. However, if a business does not have the know-how to get through this process, it is best to work with a company that specializes in talent mapping for executive searches. 

Streamlining the recruitment process

Businesses can benefit by incorporating talent mapping and succession planning into their recruitment processes, while also following hiring-related best practices. 

Tips for getting it right

Using talent mapping for succession planning can be straightforward, provided you follow a few simple guidelines.

• Include career development and talent mapping in strategic hiring plans.
• Keep the head of human resources informed about any soon-to-become-available high-level roles.
• Create detailed job descriptions for all important positions.
• Encourage existing employees to keep adding to their skill sets.
• Build a strong relationship with a consulting firm that can provide talent mapping and executive search support to your HR & Executive team.

Talent mapping and succession planning are part of an ongoing process. However, strategies need to be reviewed periodically, keeping in mind the talent that is available as well as prevailing market conditions. 

Archer Talent Partners provides practical and bespoke talent mapping and succession planning solutions. The talent mapping reports we provide include high-level strategic oversights as well as a granular level of detail. This gives our clients the insight they require to make critical decisions surrounding filling crucial positions. 

If you need more information about our talent mapping services or have any questions, feel free to contact us.