The popularity of high-potential (HIPO) employee programs across organisations continues to rise and there’s a number of reasons why. Such programs are designed to address a common company challenge across many organisations, which is cultivating promising future leaders. Too often organisations invest in current leaders offering them leadership training and development programs, but forget about bringing the next generation on the journey. Developing future leaders was recently highlighted as one of the most pressing challenges some employers face. A recent statistic showed that 82% of leaders agree with this statement. With the labour market still relatively tight and retention an ongoing issue for many organisations, developing future talent becomes more pressing. A HIPO program is a program designed to identify, develop and retain top quality talent within an organisation. It focuses on individuals who represent an elite group of employees, those who exhibit exceptional potential to assume leadership roles in the future. They show potential to be game changers and possess a combination of talent, high performance, often exceed expectations and quickly become the rising stars of your workforce. Why wouldn’t you want to develop and invest in these type of star employees – before another employer decides to do so! Here are a few reasons why HIPO programs are a critical element of development programs for organisations: · They help future-proof the leadership pipeline. They are a great tool to identify individuals with the potential to become a future leader. This ensures a steady stream of talented individuals ready to step into key roles as needed, whether it’s backfilling a promotion, retirement or unexpected resignation. · It can increase the likelihood of retaining top talent. It helps demonstrate that the organisation values employee contributions and provides career paths. · It can assist in increasing employee engagement. When employees are recognised for their efforts and given an opportunity to grow, they are more likely to be productive and engaged. · It helps as an attraction tool to attract top quality talent to the organisation. · It can improve organisational performance and drive innovation and new ways of thinking. · It plays a pivotal role in assisting with succession planning and preparing potential successors for their next role, ensuring a smooth transition of leadership when needed. In essence, a HIPO program is an investment in the future prosperity and sustainability of an organisation. Let’s proactively and strategically invest in our HIPO employees now – or run the risk of losing them to your arch competitor!  

Mikahla Smith Executive Consultant – Group Solutions

Mikahla’s role as Executive Consultant, Group Solutions encompasses three main avenues of Optimum Consulting’s business including Talent Acquisition and Advisory; HR Consulting and Employee Engagement; and End to End Recruitment…