Talent Wins - by Ram Charan & Dominic Barton & Dennis Carey (Hardcover)

About the Book

Most executives today recognize the competitive advantage of human capital, and yet the talent practices their organizations use are stuck in the twentieth century. Typical HR talent-planning processes (which are too expensive and take too long to implement) are designed for predictable environments, traditional ways of getting work done, and organizations where "lines and boxes" still define how people are managed. As work and organizations have become more fluid--and business strategy is no longer about planning years out but about sensing and seizing new opportunities and adapting to a constantly changing environment--companies must deploy talent in new ways to remain competitive. Written for CEOs and leaders across the organization, Talent Rules provides a much-needed framework for transforming how companies acquire, manage, and deploy talent--for today's agile, digital, analytical, technologically driven strategic environment--and for creating the HR function the business needs. With examples of companies that are well along the path of reinventing their approaches to talent, such as Amgen, AT&T, BlackRock, GE, Haier, J&J, and PepsiCo, as well as the juggernauts and the start-ups of Silicon Valley, this book provides leaders with a seven-part plan for: Integrating talent and capital Making talent drive strategy Designing and redesigning the work of the organization Scaling up individual talent Creating an M&A strategy for talent Reinventing the role of HR Living the talent agenda Providing deep, expert insight and advice for what needs to change and how to change it, Talent Rules is the definitive book for reimagining and creating the talent-driven organization.--

Book Synopsis

Radical Advice for Reinventing Talent--and HR

Most executives today recognize the competitive advantage of human capital, and yet the talent practices their organizations use are stuck in the twentieth century.

Typical talent-planning and HR processes are designed for predictable environments, traditional ways of getting work done, and organizations where "lines and boxes" still define how people are managed. As work and organizations have become more fluid--and business strategy is no longer about planning years ahead but about sensing and seizing new opportunities and adapting to a constantly changing environment--companies must deploy talent in new ways to remain competitive.

Turning conventional views on their heads, talent and leadership experts Ram Charan, Dominic Barton, and Dennis Carey provide leaders with a new and different playbook for acquiring, managing, and deploying talent--for today's agile, digital, analytical, technologically driven strategic environment--and for creating the HR function that business needs. Filled with examples of forward-thinking companies that have adopted radical new approaches to talent (such as ADP, Amgen, BlackRock, Blackstone, Haier, ING, Marsh, Tata Communications, Telenor, and Volvo), as well as the juggernauts and the startups of Silicon Valley, this book shows leaders how to bring the rigor that they apply to financial capital to their human capital--elevating HR to the same level as finance in their organizations.

Providing deep, expert insight and advice for what needs to change and how to change it, this is the definitive book for reimagining and creating a talent-driven organization that wins.

Review Quotes

Advance Praise for Talent Wins:

Alain Bejjani, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Group--
"Turning human 'resources' into human 'capital'--a prerequisite to win in this era of talentism. An inspiring read for those who are trying to make a difference!"

Ed Breen, CEO, DowDuPont; Lead Director, Comcast--
"If you believe you've read all there is about the role of human capital in propelling value creation, think again. Charan, Barton, and Carey have crafted their many experiences into a compelling and concise book that frames a 'people before strategy' argument that is refreshingly new and different."

Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman and CEO, American Express; Director, IBM and Procter & Gamble--
"Engaged employees are the key to success in any business, and Talent Wins offers real-world insights on how to foster talent, inspire creativity, and lead winning teams for the long term."

Alex Gorsky, Chairman and CEO, Johnson & Johnson; Director, IBM--
"Talent is the difference between a good company and great company. And nurturing talent--helping people flourish--requires continuous action, effort, and work. It is critical to the mission and the aspirations of an organization that leaders be inventing, and then reinventing, the talent development playbook. Talent Wins helps you do just that."

Hein Knaapen, Chief HR Officer, ING Bank NV--
"This book gives compelling arguments for treating talent management as a crucial competency for any company that wants to succeed. The authors' proposed approach is a real departure from many accepted practices in talent management. Taking their recommendations to heart will significantly change the role of CEOs as well as the requirements for HR professionals in the future."

William McNabb, Chairman, The Vanguard Group--
"Business leaders have talked about the importance of people for years but often were vague about how to turn talent into a competitive advantage. In this new book, Charan, Barton, and Carey turn conventional views about human resources on their head and create the ultimate playbook for making human capital the ultimate edge for organizations of all types."

Alan Mulally, retired President and CEO, Ford Motor Company; former CEO, Boeing Commercial Airplanes; and Director, Google and Carbon3D--
"Talented people working together is the catalyst to deliver profitable growth for the benefit of all stakeholders. Talent Wins provides compelling strategies and tools to continuously develop the talent in your organization!"

Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft--
"Millennials will soon account for over half of all workers. They want to be not only more creative, productive, and collaborative than ever before, but they also seek a greater sense of purpose and a deeper connection to their company's mission. Talent Wins implores senior leaders to know their employees as well as they know their finances and the capital they deploy."

Susan Peters, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, General Electric--
"With real-world experiences from broad industries, Charan, Barton, and Carey bring to life a game plan to identify and develop talent--and leverage that talent for winning outcomes."

Denise L. Ramos, CEO and President, ITT Inc.; Director, Phillips 66--
"A groundbreaking book for the next twenty years that focuses CEOs' attention on the strategic value of employees and the necessity of bringing HR into the leadership circle. A must-read!"

Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook; founder, LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org; and Director, Walt Disney Company--
"In a competitive global economy, no business can afford to leave talent on the sidelines. Talent Wins provides an innovative framework for cultivating talent--and shows that diverse teams are critical to unlocking an organization's full potential."

Ivan Seidenberg, former Chairman and CEO, Verizon; Director, BlackRock--
"Talent Wins exquisitely captures the essence of creating a modern digital platform and management practices to reinvent the HR role in your company with the goal to develop, manage, and nurture the talent in today's demanding marketplace. The book includes excellent case studies and practical examples that provide guidance and insights for every executive to consider in building a successful company."

Masahiko Uotani, President and Group CEO, Shiseido Company--
"Talent Wins can be a key to unlocking the full potential of Japanese global corporations."

About the Author

Ram Charan is an expert on corporate governance, author of four bestsellers (Execution, Confronting Reality, The Attacker's Advantage, and Boards That Lead), and winner of best-teacher awards at Northwestern and GE. With forty years of experience, he is a world-renowned adviser and problem solver to boards and CEOs. He serves on six boards.

Dominic Barton is the global managing partner of McKinsey & Company. He has authored more than eighty articles on capitalism, leadership, financial market development, Asia, history, and the issues and opportunities facing global and Asian markets, and he is the coauthor of three books, including Re-Imagining Capitalism.

Dennis Carey is Vice Chairman of Korn Ferry, where he recruits board directors, CEOs, and their direct reports. He has published five books, including Boards That Lead, coauthored with Ram Charan and Michael Useem, and more than fifty refereed journal articles covering topics ranging from CEO succession and corporate strategy to M&A, corporate governance, and human capital.