SPR 2022 Technology Leadership Forecast - Theme 5: Competing for IT Talent

1. C O M P E T I N G
F O R I T T A L E N T
05
TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP FORECAST 2022

2. THEMES
Role of IT:
Control Shift
The Great
Experience
In the Revenue
Driver’s Seat
Security as an
Investment
Competing for
IT Talent
Strategic vs.
tactical
Anticipating a
need
IT aligned with the
business units
Elevating
security
conversations
Recruitment and
retention for
today’s workforce
01 02 03 04 05
2022 Technology Leadership Forecast | spr.com

3. COMPETITION FOR
TALENT IS STEEP.
“The Great Resignation” has
prompted companies to re-
evaluate recruiting strategies.
68% of leaders say their
technology organization is
extremely effective at attracting
top-tier talent, versus 50% of
followers.
How effective do you believe your
technology organization is at
attracting top-tier talent?
% of respondents (N=400, L=71, F=329)
LEADERS
FOLLOWERS
68%
Extremely effective
50%
Extremely effective
2022 Technology Leadership Forecast | spr.com

4. “
TALHA BASIT
CTO, DEEP6 AI
TRANSPARENCY AND SUNLIGHT
ARE WHAT ENGINEERS ARE
SEEKING. IF THEY AREN’T
GETTING INSIGHT INTO WHAT
YOU’RE LOOKING FOR, THEY’LL LEAVE.”

5. IT organizations are facing the steepest
competition for talent ever – and what
worked in the past to attract and retain
talent may not work anymore.
While salary, benefits and culture remain top draws for talent, the opportunity to work
on challenging and interesting projects is also an attractor.
Talented technology employees have more options than ever, especially as more and more companies
become software driven. We often hear that every company is a tech company, and that means more
companies in competition for talent—and more companies trying to poach your people. As the
pandemic makes remote-first workplaces more and more common, satisfaction with work projects is
even more important than ever to create a positive differentiator.
2022 Technology Leadership Forecast | spr.com

6. TALHA’S TOP
FIVE TIPS FOR
ATTRACTING
AND RETAINING
TOP-TIER
TALENT
01 FIRE LOW PERFORMERS. You’ll be able to bring in new top-talent
and your high performers will feel more valued.
02 HIRE SMART PEOPLE; GET OUT OF THE WAY. If you hired the right
people, they will figure out creative ways to create revenue for you.
03
PAY TOP DOLLAR FOR TALENT. Have open discussions about the
employee or applicant’s worth and encourage employees and
applicants to bring you other offers.
04
PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR REAL GROWTH. Don’t spend your
money on ping pong tables and snacks – this isn’t what employees
want anymore.
05 CELEBRATE WHEN SOMEONE GETS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.
Don't make it a funeral, make it a party!
2022 Technology Leadership Forecast | spr.com
Talha Basit, CTO at Deep6 AI, recently shared with us several tips for attracting and retaining top-tier talent.

7. COMPANIES NEED TO ATTRACT THE BEST
EMPLOYEES BY PUTTING PEOPLE IN A
POSITION TO BE REASONABLY CHALLENGED,
BUT IN A WAY THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED.
“
JUSTIN RODENBOSTEL, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT,
DELIVERY MANAGEMENT, SPR
2022 Technology Leadership Forecast | spr.com

8. % of respondents (N=400, L=71, F=329)
Based on your
knowledge and
experience, how
satisfied do you
believe the
employees in
your technology
organization are
with working at
your company?
2022 Technology Leadership Forecast | spr.com
82%
LEADERS
48%
FOLLOWERS

9. Have the hard conversations.
TACKLING TOUGH TOPICS WITH TALENT
01
Managers must communicate with their
teams as companies continued to work in
altered ways due to the pandemic.
02
Address pandemic-related burnout with
empathy and flexibility.
03
Break the paradigm where employees feel
that they only way to get what they want
is to leave.
04
Talk to talent about what you did in times of crisis.
How did you take care of your people?
05
Have frank conversations about compensation and
growth opportunities. If employees aren’t getting
what they’re looking for, they’ll leave.
06
Keep the door (and lines of communication and
support) open and encourage high-performing
former employees to return.
2022 Technology Leadership Forecast | spr.com

10. Technology Leadership Forecast