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
Say What You Mean To Say
Now that you’ve learned to listen, you’re ready to speak! The key to working collaboratively is making sure everyone is on the same page. Our focus today is on ways to ensure you’re getting your message across in a variety of workplace environments.Taking a nuanced,...
Wednesday Wellness: Communication
With birds’ songs brightening the air, let a sense of music propel you through the middle of your workweek! For today’s Wednesday Wellness, we’re continuing our reflections on the importance of communication. Think of every conversation as a positive opportunity...
Listen Twice As Much As You Speak
Today we’re continuing our conversation about communication with this key piece of advice: “Listen twice as much as you speak.” Doing this will allow you to learn as much as possible from those around you, keeping yourself open to every opportunity while also creating...
Monday Mood Booster: Communication
Welcome back! We hope you had a wonderful weekend. As your work week starts back up, remember that daylight savings time is just around the bend. Get ready to set your clocks an hour forward this weekend! Inspired by the chirps of birds all around us as spring gets...
Getting Off To A Fresh Start Each And Every Day
Friday is almost here! As the end of the week draws closer, we’re by discussing ways to reinvigorate your approach to your workplace. Whether it’s your first day or your 101st, you’ll want to make sure you’re consistently bringing the same burst of energy to your...
Wednesday Wellness: Beginnings
It may be the middle of the week, but remember that any day--every day--can offer up a fresh, new start. Whether your week so far has been horrible or wonderful, take a moment to appreciate the present. And let that positive energy guide you forward. The affirmations...
How To Be The Fresh Air In Your Workplace
With March newly beginning, this week we’ll be focusing on just that--beginnings. From the first impressions you make in your employment placements to the clean slate each day offers up, make the most out of every moment. As Kelly Nguyen at ProSky points out, “You...
Feel Good Friday: Growth
Happy Friday! There’s much to celebrate as the week draws to a close: we’ll be kicking off a brand new month! And with March’s arrival will soon come spring. While we know this past year has had a lot of unprecedented twists and turns, remember that you’ve...
Wednesday Wellness: Growth
You’re midway through the week! As you proceed through your day, consider how all of your previous experiences have culminated in your present, and let them propel you onward through the rest of your week--and beyond. And to find inspiration for the best direction for...
Blossom Into A Better You At Your Workplace
As winter winds down, it’s a great time to unfreeze yourself from any unhelpful patterns you may have settled into. New opportunities for self-development exist all around you in your workplace! By looking to the achievements of others, you can figure out your own...
Monday Mood Booster: Growth
Welcome back! As February comes to a close and spring draws nearer, think about the ways in which you can blossom into a better self. A great place to start is by realizing that you still have much to learn as you move through the world. While you should keep in mind...
Feel Good Friday: Light
Happy Friday! Today we’re bringing the week to a close by continuing to provide ways you can shine a light on a bright path forward for you and all of your colleagues. Remember that your successes don’t exist in a vacuum but are instead the result of the contributions...
Let Your Leadership Shine in Any Workplace
As the light outside lingers for longer, today we’ll continue our conversation on how to serve as a shining light in your workplace, examining ways of indicating to both your colleagues and your employers that you have a solid handle on your current responsibilities...
Wednesday Wellness: Light
You have the strength to be a source of inspiration amongst your colleagues. And there’s no better time to serve as a guiding light than now--especially in February when everyone can use a bit of a mood boost after the excitement of the holidays has worn off! Though...