What attracts people to your organization? Is it the reputation of the firm? Or, maybe the "brand" is highly sought after. Whatever the reason most organizations would say attracting talent is essential.
The "eight hundred pound gorilla" is asking why so few organizations concentrate on development…in the hunt for, and the retention of talent. One key reason for this derelict behavior is fear. A number of corporations fear losing top talent to competitors (if they grow they’ll want more and leave). Incorrectly, they think of more ways to make talented people dependent, than nurturing their strengths. They fear removing executives that have stopped growing ("Bob has been hear for fifteen years we could never turn his world upside down, and besides he could sue"). I could list many other fears, but you get the point.
Some who believe development is "soft" want proof that leadership development, growth planning and vision casting works. These folks want something tangible before the risk the capital investment. Needless to say, I’m amazed that we’re suspicious of developing HUMAN BEINGS. This suspicion is directly connected with our obsession with numbers (profit).
As the shortage of top talent increases the idea of ROD (Return on Development) will get more attention, and hopefully more action too. Organizations that ignore the reality of the future ahead will go the way of the dinosaur. Ironically, we’re getting the warnings, the dinosaurs didn’t.
In the end, think about organizations that don’t develop their top talent. Maybe you work for an entity that doesn’t spend much of anything on development. Either way the results of leaving top talent alone are evident.