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ETA Plan

What is an ETA plan?

It is not an Estimated Time of Arrival, although, this reference and emphasis on TIME is not completely misplaced. Today’s Generation’s X and Y are demonstrating a phenomenon known as "just in time loyalty" in that organizations that find a way to respond reflexively to the local and global markets in their search and seizure of talent are the ones that succeed in today’s marketplace.

An ETA plan focuses on how to: "Entertain, Train and Attract" talent in a Generation NOW environment.

When will your talent arrive?

How will you attract your talent?

Why will your talent choose to stay?

At one time International Business Machines (IBM), the mighty "Big Blue" touted lifetime employment as a benefit (and for the "Generation THEN" this was considered attractive) in more recent years they have had several rounds of massive lay-offs effecting tens of thousands (totaling in the hundreds of thousands) of people yet remained an extremely strong, powerful and viable company. This is but one example of "how and why" today’s workforce exhibits a phenomenon known as "just in time loyalty" where loyalty is an expression of the moment, not the future.

In today’s Generation NOW environment the old-school standard: recruit, train and retain, is not enough.

In today’s Generation NOW environment the old-school standard: recruit, train and retain, is not enough. Even visually the words alone suggest otherwise. When you look at it this way: RE-cruit plus TRAIN equals RETRAIN not retain. A successful organization must have an ETA plan to Entertain, Train (and Retrain) and Attract talent!

Entertain: it is not enough to simply Employ someone, an organization must Entertain them! The organization must Entertain their ideas and vision by constantly providing and seeking information. A successful organization must Entertain their employees as a whole by providing a culture with "Three F" appeal: Family, Fun and Flexibility.

Train: constant training and constant growth are a must! In today’s Generation NOW environment loyalty is expressed in the moment, not in the future. Strategies like "TAP" (Tuition Assistance Programs) are viewed as: "I will be loyal to you WHILE you send me to school" as apposed to the former "I am loyal to you BECAUSE you sent me to school." Combination programs that Entertain and Train (i.e "EnterTrain") are a highly successful blend of these two critical challenges faced by an employer of the Generation NOW.

Attract: forget about "Help Wanted" ads. It is now about the opportunity you provide a candidate: not the paycheck. You are not providing a "cubicle in the corporate office" but a "window into the world" and you have to create an environment where the candidate wants you more than you want the candidate. You must constantly promote the creative aspects of your organization and gain a reputation for offering dynamic and enjoyable growth opportunities.

An excellent mechanism by which to address all phases of an ETA Plan is to adopt a continued learning approach that incorporates and utilizes an "EnterTrainment" approach to adult learning.

Do you have an ETA plan?

Do you have or utilize an "EnterTrainment" approach?

Do you have a desire to increase the strength, dynamism, and depth of your talent?

Lon Kieffer is the President and "Chief EnterTrainer" for K&S Consulting Group, a provider of executive recruiting and training services to Fortune 500 companies (including Honeywell and Acuity Brands Lighting) in addition to HealthCare concerns of any size (recent Statewide Organization and Association clients include: Delaware, Maryland, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Missouri).