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◦	Today’s Employees Have No Loyalty
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◦	How Do You Spell Success?
◦	The New Physics of the Workplace
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A few years ago, The Gallup Organization published some definitive research about workplace satisfaction and talent retention/employee engagement based on 25 years’ worth of interviews with over a million employees. Their findings were published in the book First Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently (Simon & Schuster, 1999) They synthesized their research into their "Q12" formula which identified the key factors that produced higher productivity and profits.

They suggest that most companies aren't even playing the right game.

"Most companies treat every one of their people the same. They play checkers with them. The best managers play chess with their people, knowing that every person is different."

Since chess has been around since the 15th century, we thought it would be interesting to explore this analogy to see what might be applied to Talent Retention challenges in the 21st century.

	SIX WINNING TALENT STRATEGY TIPS

1. In winning chess, tactics are the short-term moves and must flow from an overall plan or strategy. Otherwise, you are just shuffling resources around without a plan ... and you get labeled as a "woodpusher." In the game of Talent Retention, you just simply crash and burn from productivity and profit losses.

2. Get off to a good start (Employee Orientation). Use opening moves to deploy resources to the best positions. You can be brilliant at understanding each piece, but until you have a strategy for deployment, you can lose in one move. Locate resources where they will develop their greatest power (Capability Development).

3. In case of a blunder, don't lose hope. When the other player is congratulating him/herself on their clever moves, you just might be able to escape.

4. The broad objectives in both chess and Talent Retention are to retain resources. And they both require the same critical strategy: the ability to predict the responses of the other player, and the ability to understand yourself. In both games, players need to think fast - often under pressure - to avoid unnecessary risks.

5. Both are games of accumulating small advantages to produce huge results. (One Employee at a Time!) Every move must have a purpose. Don’t go for the “win” too quickly. Conversely, thinking too far ahead is a waste of time … the future is too uncertain.

6. When threatened, always respond. Keep the initiative. If you don't have it, seize it. Always look for a better move; don't follow the rules mechanically.

Before starting, in both chess and Talent Retention, it is critical to understand the powers and limitations of your "arsenal."

Think about each chess piece as a symbol for each of your Talent Retention tactics. While there is comfort in having more resources than others, knowing when and how to strategically deploy what you have is the real key to success ... in chess and in Talent Retention.

The Rook

Represents: The Work (as in challenging, meaningful, exciting work).
Power: The Rook is big, fast and strong. Players who most effectively get their rooks into the game often win. Very mobile.

Limitations: Can only move in straight lines. Has to start the game buried in a corner. Must wait for others to find places before it can get out and move around.


	In Talent Retention, The Work itself is often the 'deal-maker/breaker' for younger workers who value development of 'hot' marketable skill sets.

The Bishop

Represents: Career Planning & Development.
Power: Most powerful when long distance moves are needed. Can move any number of squares on the diagonals. Can capture anything in its way.

Limitations: Colour-bound (must forever remain on colour it started on) and needs a partner to cover entire board. Not as effective when close contact is required. Can be blocked by its own team.


	In Talent Retention, Career Planning works best if employees take ownership for advancement and blockages, with manager as coach/partner; can easily become a barrier.

The Queen

Represents: Work-Life Balance.
Power: Not only the most powerful and dangerous, but also the most valuable piece. Can move any number of squares, in any direction - up, down, side, diagonal.

Limitations: Cannot jump over pieces but can capture. Because of its high value, requires constant protection during dangerous times.


	In Talent Retention, Work-Life Balance can shift and fracture without notice during organizational change; requires constant monitoring

The Knight

Represents: Compensation & Benefits.
Power. Most powerful when leaping over pieces - yours or the other player’s. Likes close contact. Often the first piece moved off the back rank, and the first to connect with the other player. Will just hold its position and dare others to attack.

Limitations: A tricky piece to understand. Aggressive and always ready for action, but can be forced to back down by a lowly pawn.


	In Talent Retention, Compensation is frequently overused as a first option because of its seemingly immediate results; not effective on its own for the longer term.

The Pawn

Represents: Relationships and Non-Monetary Recognition.

Power: Moves one square at a time. Most powerful when in pairs or groups. Other pieces will back off to avoid the embarrassment of being exchanged for an inferior pawn.

Limitations: Cannot move backwards or sideways. Can easily get stuck.


	In Talent Retention, important workplace Relationships & Recognition (non-monetary) can outperform all other strategies. Employees leave to follow a great leader/mentor.

The King

Represents: Corporate Culture.

Power: This piece is priceless, but not very powerful. If the King is lost, the game is over, regardless of how many pieces you have. If under attack, it must be defended.

Limitations: Can only move one square at a time, but in any direction (except for castling).


	In Talent Retention, Cororate Culture is the 'silent talent killer.'

Talent Retention strategies built around just one or two "pieces" will win a skirmish or two, but will not be powerful enough to win The Game.