Business Owners: Staffing is Top Challenge

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Small business owners report that hiring and retaining talent is their most significant business challenge, according to a quarterly survey by Vistage Worldwide.

Vistage, a global organization that assembles and facilitates private advisory boards for CEOs, conducts a quarterly survey covering a variety of small business topics. More than one-third of the 1,300 respondents cite staffing as the most significant issue they are currently facing, including identifying qualified candidates, hiring, retaining valuable staff members, and training. Additionally, CEOs note that their companies’ biggest barrier to innovation is talent, pointing to a common theme, and the importance of having a talent management and acquisition strategy in place.

“Talent is key to the success of any organization, especially in small business,” said Michael Molina, chief human resources officer of Vistage Worldwide. “Having processes in place to recruit top talent, transparent communication with employees, and a program for the CEO’s growth and development are critical to keeping an organization moving in the right direction.”

In the second quarter of 2016 CEO optimism in the economy declined across the board to its lowest level in three years. Political uncertainty during times of presidential elections has influenced confidence in the past, with a low point following the 2012 presidential election. With half of survey respondents planning to increase their firms’ total number of employees in the next 12 months, other notable findings include:

  • 83% note that their team is made up of multiple generations–college interns through employees nearing retirement. And half of respondents are planning to hire recent college grads.
  • Due to the influx of millennial workers, nearly two-thirds of companies have adapted their management style in the past five years, and 57% of respondents now offer different benefit packages or perks to attract young talent.
  • Although 82% of CEOs conduct performance reviews of their employees, 60% of CEOs do not have a system in place for a self-review within their company.
  • The biggest barrier to innovation for 30% of small-business CEOs is finding employees with the right talent and skills. All while combatting bias in the work environment.
  • 83% of CEOs encourage all their employees to use their vacation days, although about half expect employees to check and respond to email while on vacation.

To review more survey results visit: http://www.vistage.com/press-center/vistage-ceo-survey/.

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