Since 2005 commodities have risen 300% or more, housing values have crashed, the liquidity crunch is strangling business investment and the Baby Boomer crisis is in full swing with 60 percent of the federal government’s management cadre due to retire by 2011.  These are desperate times that are seriously shocking the American dream.  For the first time in over 200 years American children do not expect to live better than their parents. 

From the CEO’s perspective the challenge in the 21st century has shifted from cost reduction through process improvement to sustaining top line growth, leading excellence in execution and finding top talent, according to the latest Conference Board CEO survey. 

Where is HR in all this; still holed up in its silo tossing out disconnected services and measuring past transactions?  It is time to change the personnel game. 

Five years from now how are you going to feel if you have not taken bold steps to improve your skills and your contribution to the enterprise?  Will you still bemoan the fact that HR doesn’t have a seat at the table?  Well whose fault do you think that will be?
 
It is time to move from benchmarking the past to predicting the future.

Jac