I just read a great article on the SHrM website that discusses the need to engage employees in career development conversations, especially in these troubled economic times. Please take a look at the full article here: http://shrm.org/hrdisciplines/orgempdev/articles/pages/careerconversationtips.aspx

The author of the article, Caela Farren, Ph.D., states the following reasons why career conversations are still important: “We are living in tumultuous economic times. Job loss, corporate restructure, and worrisome finances are taking a toll on career plans. Strategies and tactics continue to change rapidly in organizations, which affects career options directly. The workforce is far more diverse—multicultural, multigenerational, global, technically diverse.”

This is a very poignant and acute assessment, but it does not account for another scenario. Eventually the economy is going to begin roaring full steam ahead and break our of the doldrums that have thus far slowed it for the past two years. We are already beginning to see signs that some of the new economic policies enacted by the Obama administration are pointing us in the right direction. (This is certainly an arguable point, but I’m inclined to be a hopeful optimist!). With this in mind, it is important to have your employees on a viable and rewarding career track so that when the economic landscape corrects itself, employees do not jump ship from what they believe to be a dead end job.

Now is the time to have serious career conversations with your employees and create personal development plans that will provide goals for employees to work toward. Keeping your organization’s talent on board when the economy is back in full swing will help you to meet future business demands.

Post personal development plan information on a bulletin board (or on your Learning @… web application – hint, hint ) and help your dedicated employees succeed. Trust me, it will benefit your organization greatly!