It’s the People, Then the Economy: Six Steps to Managing Your Talent through Tough Times

At a time when top management is focused on lost ad revenue, uncertainty about how to connect with new customers, and a host of other business survival issues, it’s easy to downplay the human factor. But this is a time in the evolution of publishing and information-providing companies that calls for leadership that pays attention to people – especially talent. People, after all, will solve the business challenges of today, as well as create a solid foundation for organizational success tomorrow. In this report we examine how publishing leaders can be talent leaders, focusing in particular on the specific challenges of leadership in publishing. The report draws on interviews, current research findings, and the practical insights gleaned from hands-on consulting by the author, Outsell Affiliate Lynne Morton, President & Principal of Performance Improvement Solutions. It contains:

- A definition of business talent and analysis of how to manage it;
- Six action steps for leadership, from the basics to the more complex;
- An example of how leaders at Demand Media successfully manage talent;
- Essential actions for information providers and publishers.