Putting the “Strategy” Back in Strategic Staffing
You’ve probably heard the term “strategic staffing” tossed around and you’ve probably been contacted by companies that claim to do “strategic staffing.” However, not every plan is truly strategic. It’s important to understand what strategic staffing should look like, so you can determine whether a staffing firm is truly able to deliver a plan that will help you reduce open roles, maintain productivity, and achieve your organizational goals.
What is Strategic Staffing?
According to the book Strategic Staffing: A Comprehensive System for Effective Workforce Planning, Second Edition by Thomas P. Bechet, strategic staffing is “the process that organizations use to identify and address the staffing implications of their business strategy and plans.”
This means your staffing plan must align with your overall business strategy. A truly “strategic” plan takes past staffing patterns into account and examines where the business is today, and where it is going in the future. From there, the plan should identify the skills required of your team to achieve your goals, and based on previous staffing data, determine the number of full-time employees and contingent employees you’ll need today, and in the future, to drive your organizational strategy.
A Solution to the “Problem” of Staffing
For most companies, staffing is a problem that can prevent goal achievement. Strategic staffing turns staffing into a business solution. Salaries are expensive, and most companies employ far too many people. That’s why layoffs are one of the first lines of defense when a company struggles financially. Strategic staffing allows you to determine exactly how many full-time employees you need, and develops a plan to help you ramp up and down quickly with temporary employees, based on changing conditions.
A strategic staffing plan also addresses recruiting costs: Lost time in a disorganized search is often what makes recruiting so expensive. A staffing firm takes over all the legwork and only recommends truly aligned candidates, so you can keep your internal HR team focused on other initiatives. Over the long term, a strategic plan will also reduce turnover because it will reduce hiring risk and improve retention, keeping costs in line.
Are You Looking for a Strategic Staffing Partner?
If you are ready to partner with a Boston staffing firm that truly practices strategic staffing, work with the experts at Contemporaries, Inc. We work closely with our clients to truly understand their needs, and we can develop a plan that addresses immediate, short-term and long-term talent needs. Our clients trust us to make strategic recommendations for their business that improve the quality of new hires, control costs and facilitate organizational goals.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you leverage strategic staffing for success.
Recent Posts
Good Work Habits Will Always Go A Long Way
No matter what career path you choose or what venue of work you are in possessing good work habits will go a long way in terms of setting you up for success. Some of these habits seem simple, such as arriving at the office or signing on to a remote job early or at...
Using “Best Practice” Work Habits Will Pay Off!
If you treat a job as something you are forced to do and never go the extra distance, in addition to being very unhappy, you will also be sabotaging your own chances for achieving career success. If, on the other hand, you view each work occasion as an avenue to learn...
Hidden Benefits of a Contract Assignment
Working on a temporary or contract work assignment has some obvious benefits such as being able to pay bills or student loans as well as offering dignity and financial independence. But such a position can also provide so much more in terms of personal and...
Feel Good Friday: Persistence
Happy Friday! You’ve made it all the way to the end of the work week thanks to your grit and determination--now let your sense of persistence keep you going through the rest of today, through the weekend, and all the way through the rest of our current transition...
Growing Your Grit And Your Community
Grit is a skill as much as it is a trait; that is to say, grit and persistence are qualities that you can actively practice and develop. Don’t be intimidated by others’ determination! It’s okay to make mistakes along the way. The trick is picking yourself up, dusting...
Wednesday Wellness: Persistence
The week’s midpoint is a great time to take stock of how far you’ve come and where you’d like to go. You’ve already made it through so many new changes the past year plus has brought! You have the strength to persevere. As you do so, remember that actions speak louder...
Appreciating Every Opportunity Will Lead You To Success
Today we’re engaging in a consideration of the long journey through our present unprecedented circumstances. As we increasingly return to normal, it’s important to think about the extent to which everyday activities were taken for granted pre-pandemic. Never would we...
Monday Mood Booster: Persistence
Welcome back! We hope you had a chance to rest up and recharge over the weekend. It may feel difficult to keep your brightness shining, but we know you’re in it for the long haul! Remember what it is that motivates you, that keeps you moving forward in the workplace...
Feel Good Friday: Brightness
Happy Friday! You’ve made it to the light at the end of your work week tunnel. Now take that light into yourself and let it keep shining for everyone around you. Going into the weekend with a positive attitude will help you maintain the forward momentum of your...
Wednesday Wellness: Brightness
Happy Hump Day! Congratulations on letting your inner strength and light guide you all the way to the week’s midpoint. Allow your brightness to shine a beacon leading you through the rest of the week! You have the ability to overcome any darkness and to reframe any...
Monday Mood Booster: Brightness
Welcome back! We hope you had a wonderful weekend, and a chance to enjoy the warm weather. As June 21st and the summer solstice draw nearer, days are growing lighter for longer. This week, we’re inspired by that expanded brightness. We’ll focus on ways to let your...
You Can Succeed Even When Change Is Constant
Today’s unprecedented circumstances can make navigating your workplace feel overwhelming. But don’t panic! You’re going through this time of change alongside everyone else in your professional community. Remember that you’ve established strong patterns that can...
Wednesday Wellness: Change
Happy Hump Day! Just as you’ve made it to the week’s midpoint, you’ve made it through all the changes life has so far thrown your way. Every obstacle has offered up a chance for a fresh start in terms of how you navigate both what happens and its effects. Let go of...
Navigating Change In Your Workplace
Welcome back! While the imminent return to your typical workplace patterns will be a source of familiarity, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that there have been several changes to the world we live in. For this week, as June kicks off, we’ll be focusing our posts...