At a time where municipalities are being asked to play a greater role in the economic development of their regions, the need to attract and retain top talent has intensified. The expertise of skilled professionals is needed to drive innovation and promote long-term growth. Apart from competitive remuneration and benefits, what else attracts talent to a region?
Destination attraction.
Deliberate attention must be pointed at positioning a municipality as an attractive place to work and live in. Lifestyle is one consideration but having a digital ecosystem in place is as important, allowing talent to be globally relevant.
Pride of association.
The reputation of a municipality is vital and is one reason why municipalities are somewhat obsessed with achieving clean audits. A municipality which missed a clean audit but is far from being dysfunctional can attract top talent drawn by their desire to change and being part of the solution.
Culture of performance.
Serious talent needs a stage to perform on. They need to know that they will not be ostracized by less ambitious or energetic colleagues but admired and acknowledged.
Innovative spirit.
Local government has been described as over-regulated, but this should not dampen innovation – it simply means that those who look beyond inherent challenges emerge as leaders.
Private sector engagement.
Local government is increasingly engaging with the private sector. This type of exposure – where profit generation and service delivery converge – provides valuable lessons in efficiency, dynamism and innovation.
Municipalities can attract top talent, but they’ll need to review their ‘product’, reposition themselves, and ensure that the talent market finds them.
