Leaders who create successful teams think differently about their mix of talent and team structure. They put a premium on being agile and lean. They tactically combine resources from employees, agencies, consultants, and freelancers to create the best mix of talent for their team to be successful. So, how do you know what the right talent mix is for your team?
Although it requires creative thinking, there’s a systematic approach to determine the best flexible workforce model for you, here's how it works.
The Flexible Workforce Model
What was once a trend is now a norm. Organizations of every type and size recognize that a contingent workforce offers opportunities for competitive advantage – enhanced profitability, increased operating efficiency, higher-level expertise, agility, just to name a few. You've probably realized some of these advantages already and are looking for ways to make your flexible workforce strategy even better.
At first glance, adding a few contingent resources to your team might seem like your silver bullet, but it’s not that simple. Getting real value from your flexible workforce requires reallocating resources, reimagining your approach to recruiting, and managing your blended team differently. It's tough, but worth it. In fact, 46% of the HR respondents surveyed by Deloitte said they are not involved in onboarding and 55% do not support training for alternative workers, leading to inconsistencies with the talent strategies in place.
The Best of Both Worlds
So, how do you go about building the right talent mix for your team? And how can your team experience the full benefits of this highly productive approach? It starts by going back to the basics and identifying your needs.
There are two important considerations in building the right talent mix for your team: internal business needs and the current employment landscape. It’s a best practice, and especially as the gig economy continues its upward trend, that you regularly evaluate your blend of talent resources. It could be that some positions are better suited for a full-time employee, that were once made for temp work. Others may be better served by outsourcing to support projects on an on-demand basis.
To help determine the right talent mix for your team, there are five questions you need to ask:
- What business needs will I need to support in the next 1-3 years?
- Will these fresh needs benefit from new perspectives or deeper experience?
- What skills will need to be in place that do not exist today and how do they differ from what my team is now providing?
- What would best fill the need – a permanent employee or a contractor?
- Will projects be static throughout the year or evolving frequently?
The answers will help you determine and build the best workforce blend for your team.
Smarter Talent Development
Employers are consistently getting smarter about how they build their teams, thinking beyond traditional models to truly optimize their workforce. Changing times require flexibility. If you start thinking more creatively about how work gets done – and who does it – you’ll position your business for continued, long-term success.
Discover a path for successfully transforming to a modern flexible workforce model with the best mix of talent for your team. Access The Flexible Workforce, A Guide to Creating a Fast, Nimble Team.
