Talent Management: the need for internal Management Development Programmes _{10 February 2009}

Many organisations invest too heavily in the search for external talent at the expense of internal development practices. This is understandable; often internal talent development may not be quick enough for rapidly expanding organisations. However, in general, we find that development is neglected relative to recruitment.

The good news is that investing in existing internal talent can be highly effective when compared with recruitment costs and on-boarding time. It also ensures you can constructively channel the efforts of your high-performers. If you neglect these people, their talents may become destructive. We need to understand how they achieve good results and share that knowledge and experience with others in the same role. This will help to avoid them becoming complacent or careless.

It is hard to believe that 11% of organizations are investing thousands of pounds identifying talent but then doing nothing with it! Organisations need to find simple solutions to talent management that allow individuals to progress into their next role whilst delivering their day-to-day objectives.