AAT CEO Forum:

Talent retention bigger challenge

Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI

Talent retention is a bigger challenge for corporate leaders today than managing business challenges. Hayleys Group Human Resources Head Sunil Dissanayake said at a CEO's Forum on Living Leadership organized by Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) in Colombo recently.

Speaking on critical areas to focus for 'Living leadership' and contributing to a panel discussion, he said that talents are available but the issue is reluctance to invest on them . However, developing talents leads to succession planning. As such, leaders should always hire better people and invest in hiring and developing employees excess to cadre to overcome talent shortages. Expatriate employment should be considered only when appropriate local talent is not available.

Referring to the area of humility, Dissanayake said that leaders should earn respect for their individuality and not for who they are and not for the position and authority they hold. They should do small things which builds loyalty and commitment.

Also leaders should not hesitate to make unpopular decisions and take responsibility for them.

The office door of the leader should be open to employees always and they should find time to spend on activities that directly benefit employees displaying genuine caring towards them, he said.