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    Research Brief 2018

    Attracting and Retaining Top Talent During Times of Change

    Research Brief

    A recording for this session isn't published. Below is the BPI editorial brief — key takeaways, an in-depth summary, and FAQs drawn from the original session materials and the presenter's body of work.

    Presenter

    BM

    Bryan Miller

    Description

    The business world is changing a break-neck speed. Mergers/Acquisition/Restructuring/Downsizing. During times of major change within organizations, employees, especially top talent, become vulnerable to turnover. Having strong retention strategies are key, and making sure that your employer brand doesn't become infected with negative attitudes is crucial. Reinforcement of the organizational culture in a positive way is crucial to sustaining the future organization. Focusing on the culture is crucial and making sure top leadership and talent leaders are in complete alignment on the corporate culture will be of extra importance as it relates to retention of top talent. In this session we'll share: * Case studies of organizations who have gone through large-scale change and have come out better on the other side. * Strategies to communicate with senior leadership and employees as to future roles of top talent and their impact on the organization * How to get top talent excited again about their role in the organization * How culture can drive behaviors needed to succeed and what behaviors necessary at the leadership level * How to reinforce the culture to increase retention

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.During major organizational change, top talent becomes more vulnerable to turnover.
    • 2.A positive and reinforced organizational culture is crucial for retaining employees during change.
    • 3.Alignment between senior leadership and talent leaders on corporate culture is essential for retaining top talent.
    • 4.Strategic communication about the future roles of top talent can re-engage them with the organization.
    • 5.Leadership behaviors must model and drive the culture needed for the organization to succeed.
    • 6.Without strong retention strategies, an employer brand can be damaged by negative employee attitudes during change.

    The Challenge of Retaining Talent in Times of Change

    The business environment is in a constant state of flux, marked by frequent mergers, acquisitions, restructuring, and downsizing. These periods of large-scale organizational change create uncertainty and can make employees, especially top performers, vulnerable to turnover. Without proactive strategies, organizations risk losing their most valuable talent and developing a negative employer brand.

    Culture as the Cornerstone of Retention

    Sustaining the organization through and beyond a major transition depends heavily on its culture. A strong, positive organizational culture is a critical tool for retention. It is essential to ensure that top leadership and talent leaders are in complete alignment on the corporate culture. This alignment enables the consistent reinforcement of the values and behaviors necessary to navigate the change successfully.

    Key Strategies for Success

    This session explores practical strategies for securing top talent and strengthening the organization, including:

    • Strategic Communication: Learn how to effectively communicate with senior leadership and employees about the future roles of top talent and their impact on the organization.
    • Re-engaging Talent: Discover methods to get high-performers excited and motivated about their role in the company's future.
    • Driving Behavior through Culture: Understand how culture can drive the behaviors needed to succeed and what specific behaviors are necessary at the leadership level.
    • Reinforcing Culture for Retention: Gain insights on how to actively reinforce the culture to increase talent retention and ensure long-term stability.
    • Lessons from Case Studies: Hear about organizations that have successfully navigated large-scale change and emerged stronger as a result.

    This session delves into critical strategies for attracting and retaining high-caliber talent in environments marked by flux and uncertainty. It provides actionable insights for leaders navigating evolving organizational landscapes, emphasizing the enduring importance of a strong talent pipeline and engaged workforce.

    What you'll learn

    • Core principles for identifying and attracting top-tier candidates.
    • Effective strategies for retaining valuable employees during periods of significant organizational change.
    • How to build a compelling employer brand that resonates with desired talent.
    • Ways to foster a positive and adaptable work culture that supports employee longevity.
    • The role of leadership in mitigating talent loss and promoting stability.

    Who this webinar is for

    This webinar is ideal for HR professionals, recruiters, talent acquisition specialists, and senior leaders across all organizational levels. Anyone responsible for managing team dynamics, fostering employee engagement, or driving organizational growth will find the content valuable. It is particularly relevant for those dealing with frequent industry shifts or internal transformations.

    Why it matters now

    The ability to attract and retain talent is more crucial than ever, particularly as industries continue to evolve rapidly and the demand for skilled professionals intensifies. Economic shifts, technological advancements, and changing workforce expectations all contribute to a dynamic talent landscape. Strong talent management practices are essential for maintaining competitive advantage, fostering innovation, and ensuring long-term organizational success. Without effective strategies, organizations risk significant setbacks due to talent gaps and high turnover.

    How leaders can apply this

    Leaders can apply these insights by first assessing their current talent acquisition and retention processes. Implementing clear, values-driven hiring practices, as discussed by Bryan Miller, is key. Focus on developing robust onboarding programs that integrate new hires efficiently and meaningfully into the team culture. For retention, regular check-ins, professional development opportunities, and fostering an environment of psychological safety are paramount. Leaders should also actively solicit and act on employee feedback to continuously refine strategies and adapt to changing team needs, ensuring the team feels valued and connected to the organization's mission.

    About this session

    Key takeaways

    Watching this webinar gives you grounded, practical perspective on workplace culture. Expect ideas you can use in leadership conversations, not abstract theory, drawn from Bryan Miller's direct experience.

    Who this is for

    CHROs, HR business partners, talent leaders, executive coaches, organizational development practitioners, and senior leaders who are responsible for workplace culture inside their organization.

    Why it matters now

    Workforce expectations, hybrid work patterns, and AI-driven change keep raising the bar on culture and leadership. Sessions like this help leaders make smarter, more evidence-informed decisions about workplace culture.

    How to apply it

    Use the ideas here to challenge a current assumption on your team, design a single concrete experiment in the next 30 days, and bring one finding back to your leadership group for discussion.

    Frequently asked questions

    Best Practice Institute

    Best Practice Institute is the research organization behind Most Loved Workplace® certification, the SPARK Model, the Love of Workplace Index™ (LOWI™), and The Workplace Report.

    The Workplace Report

    The Workplace Report is BPI's original workplace culture research and editorial briefing series for CEOs, CHROs, people leaders, talent leaders, and employer-brand teams. It turns BPI's 25 years of research, Most Loved Workplace® certification data, SPARK findings, and current workforce signals into practical analysis leaders can use.

    The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.