Talent Keepers

About the Author

Christopher Mulligan and Craig R. Taylor are prominent figures in the field of human resources and organizational development. Mulligan, with over 30 years of experience, co-founded TalentKeepers in 2000, focusing on employee engagement and retention. Taylor, formerly the vice president of client services at TalentKeepers, has led numerous client engagements and has over 25 years of experience in corporate training and organizational development.

Main Idea

Talent Keepers: How Top Leaders Engage and Retain Their Best Performers by Christopher Mulligan and Craig R. Taylor provides strategies for leaders to engage and retain top talent within their organizations. The book emphasizes the critical role of leaders in fostering engagement and offers practical approaches to creating a vibrant and committed workforce.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Energizing a Changing Workplace
2. Act on the Data
3. Engaging Your Talent Is a Business Imperative
4. Introducing the Leader Engagement Index
5. What Engages People at Work?
6. Leaders and Their Impact
7. Communication: The Lubricant of Change
8. Solving the Career-Growth Dilemma
9. New Rules for Building a Leadership Team
10. Creating an Engagement and Retention Culture
11. Building the Business Case for Engagement and Retention

Introduction: Energizing a Changing Workplace

In today’s rapidly changing workplace, retaining top talent is a major challenge. Mulligan and Taylor highlight the importance of managers in creating an engaging work environment. Engagement is essential for employee commitment, productivity, and loyalty. Leaders must focus on energizing their teams to foster a culture of engagement.

"Engaged employees act like caffeine for an organization—a java-crew that can enliven people around them, inspire creativity, promote high performance, and delight customers." - Christopher Mulligan and Craig R. Taylor

Act on the Data

Effective engagement strategies rely on data. The authors emphasize the importance of gathering and analyzing employee engagement data to inform leadership decisions. Surveys are a popular method for collecting this data. However, it is crucial that leaders take action based on the survey results to improve engagement.

"Those who believe their leader took action as a result of a survey are 11 percent more engaged." - Christopher Mulligan and Craig R. Taylor

Organizations must find ways to generate, analyze, and use data to guide talent-management practices. By doing so, leaders can create strategies that are tailored to the specific needs and dynamics of their workforce, leading to higher engagement and retention rates.

Engaging Your Talent Is a Business Imperative

Engagement and retention are not just HR responsibilities; they are business strategies with clear outcomes. An engaged workforce enhances the customer experience and drives revenue. Leaders must prioritize engagement and retention to achieve business success. The book outlines strategies for leaders to build a climate of engagement and retention.

"When leaders hold themselves accountable for energizing their most talented employees, every aspect of the organization improves." - Christopher Mulligan and Craig R. Taylor

To keep and engage high-performing employees, leaders must create a healthy and engaging workplace culture. This involves effective communication, recognition, and providing opportunities for growth and development. Engagement is not a one-size-fits-all approach; it requires customized strategies that resonate with different employees.