Talent war? It’s time to banish this cliché

If you pay attention to some commentators on recruiting and human capital management, we’re at war. No, I don’t mean the one in Afghanistan, or even the one against terror. I mean the War for Talent.

Is there anyone out there who, with me, sees this metaphor as tired and tastelessly inaccurate in today’s world, not to mention downright silly and macho-pretentious? What does it say about us that we have continued to invoke it so mechanically and reflexively for more than a decade, after all that’s happened to us as a nation and a world culture?

Back in the heady days of the start-up boom, it was once a clever, seriocomic outrider of dot.com expansionism. But it’s time to move on. Of course companies and organizations are engaged in competition with each other—competition for market share, for a share of our attention, and even for talent. But let’s not confuse healthy competition with aggressive conflict. Would you endorse this rough-and-tumble strain if it were to spread inside your organizational culture?

The War for Talent? Say it and listen to yourself. Don’t you sound like a character on Mad Men? Let’s allow this blow-hard, self-aggrandizing bromide to fade into business history, like the dictaphone.

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Comment by Sandra McCartt on February 18, 2011 at 10:25am: Don't know if it is my machine but this thing is dropping words. I really have had coffee and it didn't have anything in it. :)

Comment by Jon Prete on February 18, 2011 at 12:01pm: Although "Talent War" is a bit strong -- and we never use that term at our staffing firm -- the fact is (and I speak for the IT industry only), businesses have transformed the way they used to do business because of the recession. Companies have to do more with far less, and those workers who are more productive and more innovative, and understand overall business objectives and how their organization can create value for the business wil be far more successful and sought-after by employers. Top talent is scarce, and if a company doesn't have a hiring strategy that targets top talent, they will lose out to the competition -- short term and long term.

Comment by Sylvia Dahlby on February 18, 2011 at 7:23pm: Thank you Bob! I agree. And for those that don't, excuse me for preferring not to think in military terms when it comes to healthy competition in business. I had a sales manager that regarded clients are territory to be taken and a battle to be won for every piece of business, like we were wolves fighting over meat. Everything was strategy & tactics, attacking every perceived weakness in the "enemy", rather than focusing on delivering value & service to the customer or building a meaningful relationship or business partnership. The so called "war for talent" certainly is one cliche I'll be happy to see replaced with whatever the next buzz word du jour is.

Comment by Alasdair Murray on February 22, 2011 at 2:01pm: The war for talent first surfaced as a phrase when the employment market was failry healthy and certain sectors had a shortage of suitably qualified and skilled candidates. Now, with unemployment levels at their highest for some time here in the UK if the phrase war for talent is still being rolled out it suggests, rather scarily, that even with more people than ever looking for jobs, companies are still struggling to find the people they need. What does that say about the short to medium term outlook for the 2.5m out of work, many through no fault of their own?

Comment by Joe on February 22, 2011 at 2:34pm: Can you add, "rockstar" to this? I still see this in many job descriptions. This is usually used by agencies and not corporate world. It has the same effect on me as nails on a chalkboard when I have heard my fellow agency recruiters used it.

Comment by Sandra McCartt on February 22, 2011 at 5:58pm: Joe, i'll see your rockstar and raise you two "rainmakers" and sweeten the pot with a few dozen KOL's with a big "footprint". Out , out damned spot. Out i say!

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