Sponsored by Toptal
In today’s fluid business environment, employers are still struggling to find the right kind of talent when they need it. But what does it take to build a truly flexible, modern workforce? It takes a creative strategy and a nimble game plan. For example, a growing number of companies rely on a remote talent pipeline that scales up or down with their organization’s requirements.
In this podcast episode, we explore how employers can improve organizational resilience by tapping into a diverse pool of qualified specialists whenever the need arises…
Meet Our Guest: Vicky Mackie
This week, I’m excited to speak with Vicky Mackie, SVP of Talent Operations at Toptal — the world’s largest fully remote workforce of top talent that enables companies to scale their teams. Vicky plays a central role in matching clients with talent who have specialized expertise, on-demand.
Prior to joining Toptal, Vicky honed her strategic and operational acumen as a management consultant at Bain and Company, where she helped executive teams in multiple industries tackle their most pressing issues.
With her depth of experience, I know Vicky has loads of helpful advice to share about talent strategies that support business agility. So let’s get started!
Why a Flexible Talent Pipeline Is Essential
Welcome, Vicky. The concept of a flexible workforce seems to be gaining even more popularity now. Why do you think this model works so well, especially in an unstable business climate?
When building a talent pipeline, great leaders rely on data. What metrics are we trying to hit? What projects will help us reach those goals? From there, you can build out your recruiting pipeline over the next 6 months, 12 months, 18 months.
But although planning is still very valuable in an unstable environment, you can’t always predict the future. So the option of a flexible workforce helps supplement full-time workforce planning. It also helps fill gaps when things are uncertain or unexpected.
For example, you can flex capacity up and down as needed. Or you can tap into highly qualified talent much more quickly. Or you can find a new type of talent that matches growing demand for emerging technologies, like AI and Generative AI.
Linking Flexible Talent With Remote Work
How do you see talent management evolving with the shift to remote work and the need for flexible talent?
Research by Manpower Group says almost 80% of companies face talent shortages today. And with the pandemic, companies saw firsthand how effective remote work can be, right? Now, more processes and technologies are available than ever to make that experience incredibly smooth.
So, to attract talent that will differentiate your company, you need to leverage remote work. You’ll not only find and attract the best talent, but also retain them.
And because you’re not limiting yourself to a specific geography means you’ll have access to capabilities you may not have had in the past.
Staying Productive Through Change
While building a flexible remote pipeline, how can employers maintain quality and productivity?
First, make sure you rely on a vetted network. By ensuring the people in your talent pool are really experts in their field, you remove the risk of working with contingent talent.
Also, you’ll want to be sure you’re considering the broadest, most diverse pool you can find, so you’re able to choose the best available talent for each role.
Lastly, it’s important to build a culture around outcomes and results. When you’re in the office, you can see people doing the work. A remote environment is different. So focusing on outcomes helps people produce high-quality work without micromanagement.
How Work Culture Fits In
That point about culture is key. It’s important from the outset, right?
That’s right. You want to treat flexible talent as part of your team. They are part of the solution to the problem you want to solve. They’re the experts. And they want to be partners with you.
So you’ll want to be very clear about what success looks like. Investing in that kind of onboarding will improve the experience for everyone.
Learn More About Building a Strong Talent Pipeline
For more insights about how your organization can benefit from a flexible talent pipeline, listen to this full podcast episode. And be sure to subscribe to the #WorkTrends Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
You’ll also find a wealth of helpful insights and resources for employers on the Toptal Blog.
And anytime you want to continue this conversation on social media, follow our #WorkTrends hashtag on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Let’s talk!
