The talent climate

Abstract

PurposeNavigating a dynamic global landscape, businesses must not only define talent strategy but apply it effectively in practice. By intentionally establishing consistent talent practices, discernible to employees, organisations signal priorities for talent, establishing a psychological “climate for talent” to sustain talent development over time. The strong talent system and talent climate are introduced. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the importance of organisational context to talent management.Design/methodology/approachA strategic climate for talent and strong talent system are theorised with “strong situation” specifications: distinctiveness, consistency, consensus and context.FindingsA strategic climate for talent is defined. Empirical study is required to develop and validate the talent climate construct.Practical implicationsEmployees’ interpretations of talent practices as signals of organisational priorities will influence the effectiveness of talent strategy implementation. This paper highlights the importance of a contextually relevant, consistently implemented talent system which signals the organisation’s invitation to employees to develop their potential in alignment with business strategy, enhancing career outcomes and supporting employees’ perceptions of inclusion and procedural fairness in talent management (TM). It supports management practice in an increasingly dynamic context to implement sufficiently distinct, consistent and contextually relevant talent practices.Originality/valueThe strategic climate for talent, perceivable by individual employees and resulting from a strong talent system, is introduced. This paper extends strategic human resources management, TM and climate literatures introducing a cross-level model of strategic organisational climate which examines proximal employee outcomes of TM practices.