Lessons for Building the Winning Workforce of Tomorrow

Because of evolving technology, the strategies defining plans for most company workforces are bound to change dramatically.

Because of technological innovation, the strategic underpinnings of most companies’ workforce plans are bound to change dramatically. Building a winning workforce for tomorrow starts today.

Here are three lessons for organizations hoping to succeed:

Delineate skills that will be required to win in the future. The roles most companies specify as central to the success of their company will need to change as technology changes. Advanced analytics, the “internet of things,” artificial intelligence and other innovations are making it possible for companies to compete in new and different ways. This should lead to new strategies and, with them, new roles.

RELATED: The Big Picture About Big Data

Objectively assess current capabilities of your workforce to identify gaps. Once your organization understands the roles that will be most critical to winning, as well as the skills required to be a star in these roles, it is important to examine the current capabilities of your workforce. How many employees have the potential to become stars in the roles of tomorrow? Does your company have a sufficient supply of star talent to win? The best companies audit the skills and capabilities of their workforces carefully to identify gaps they may face.

RELATED: Skills That Won’t Be Automated Any Time Soon

Develop and acquire talent you need to close any gaps. The best companies work hard to match their hiring and talent development strategies with their future workforce needs.

Copyright 2017 Harvard Business School Publishing Corp. Distributed by The New York Times Syndicate.