Supply chains don’t run themselves—people do. In this Supply Chain Byte, Lisa Anderson reminds us to recognize the individuals who keep operations moving every day. From planners and schedulers to warehouse teams, buyers, operations and production staff, these are the people who prevent disruptions and quietly keep everything on track. A simple acknowledgment can make a meaningful difference.

Recognizing talent should be a basic tenet of successful leadership. According to a study by MHI and Deloitte, 48% of manufacturers found moderate to significant difficulty in filling key positions. There is nothing better to resolving this issue than simply retaining top talent. Thus, you must first recognize that you have talent and search for hidden talent. As of our 20 years in consulting, we have yet to find a client that didn’t have hidden talent. Frequently, your best talent is overlooked because you spend so much time focused on the people who require additional attention to ensure customers are happy and operations are efficient.

Or, worse yet, you don’t realize your best talent is even good because they might be the ones who are seen as troublesome as they have concerns about pending issues and are willing to voice them. Take a closer look as to who gets results and who you don’t have to pay attention to because they will get the job done. Most likely, they are your hidden talent. Recognize them, appreciate them, and empower them. Results will follow and, more importantly, you’ll have happier, engaged employees. Provide training and development, and you’ll be on your way to building your team for the future.

If you are interested in reading more on this topic:
Upskilling: Strengthening Today, Safeguarding Tomorrow