How can you measure and communicate the value and impact of talent mobility initiatives?

1 Define your objectives and metrics

Before you launch or evaluate any talent mobility initiative, you need to define what you want to achieve and how you will measure it. Do you want to increase retention, productivity, innovation, diversity, or customer satisfaction? Do you want to reduce costs, turnover, skills gaps, or silos? Depending on your objectives, you can choose relevant metrics and indicators, such as employee satisfaction, performance ratings, career progression, learning outcomes, or business results. You should also establish a baseline and a target for each metric, as well as a timeline and a frequency for tracking and reporting them.

2 Collect and analyze data

Once you have defined your objectives and metrics, you need to collect and analyze data from various sources and methods, such as surveys, interviews, focus groups, assessments, feedback, analytics, or reports. You should use both quantitative and qualitative data to capture the full picture of the value and impact of talent mobility initiatives. You should also compare your data with your baseline and target, as well as with industry benchmarks or best practices, to identify gaps, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, or threats. You should look for patterns, trends, correlations, or causalities that can explain the outcomes and effects of talent mobility initiatives.

4 Align and engage stakeholders

To ensure the success and sustainability of talent mobility initiatives, you need to align and engage your stakeholders throughout the process. You should involve them in defining the objectives and metrics, collecting and analyzing data, communicating and visualizing results, and implementing and improving actions. You should also solicit their feedback, input, and support, as well as address their concerns, questions, or objections. You should create a culture of collaboration, trust, and transparency, where stakeholders can share their views, experiences, and expectations regarding talent mobility initiatives.

5 Implement and improve actions

Based on the results and recommendations from your data analysis and communication, you need to implement and improve actions that can enhance the value and impact of talent mobility initiatives. You should prioritize the most critical and feasible actions, such as revising policies, processes, or systems, providing training, coaching, or mentoring, rewarding or recognizing achievements, or creating new opportunities or pathways. You should also monitor and evaluate the outcomes and effects of your actions, using the same objectives and metrics that you defined earlier. You should also review and update your objectives and metrics as needed, to reflect the changing needs and goals of your organization and your talent.

6 Demonstrate and celebrate success

Finally, you need to demonstrate and celebrate the success of talent mobility initiatives, both internally and externally. You should showcase the achievements, impacts, and benefits of talent mobility initiatives to your stakeholders, such as senior leaders, managers, employees, customers, or partners. You should also recognize and appreciate the contributions, efforts, and learnings of the people involved in talent mobility initiatives, such as participants, sponsors, mentors, or facilitators. You should also share your best practices, challenges, and lessons learned with your peers, industry associations, or media outlets, to build your reputation and credibility as a leader in talent mobility.