Book excerpt: Recent studies show that in the next few years many companies could have only about half the leaders and skilled workers they need--and that these talent shortages will be particularly acute in the critical sectors like engineering, health care, energy, government, manufacturing, and aerospace and defense. As a line executive you need to ask yourself one question: Do we havewho it takes to drive business performance inthe future? In The Executive Guide to High-Impact TalentManagement, David DeLong and Steve Trautman combine wide-ranging research and real-world expertise to chart a clear and efficient path for senior leaders. They show how to not only reduce the risks of talent shortages but also maximize the payoff of workforce and leadership developmentinvestments. Sharing their findings based on more than 70 interviews with senior executives and top-rated talent experts and their own experience as leaders and consultants, DeLong and Trautman show you how to: Accurately diagnose talent-related risks that threaten performance Efficiently evaluate and measure workforce and leadership investments Ensure your staff is aligning talent processes to support business strategy Accelerate leadership development and the transfer of critical knowledge Communicate cultural principles that will drive recruiting, development, and retention programs Assess the talent management IQ of your leadership team The Executive Guide to High-Impact Talent Management shows leaders how to translate their belief in the importance of investing in people into concrete actions that will improve business performance. Most important, it shows you how to get started today! Praise for The Executive Guide to High-Impact Talent Management: "Most executives I know are far more comfortable running the financial or operational or product sides of their business. This book does an excellent job clarifying every leader's real role in developing talent to grow their business." -- John Rex, CFO, Microsoft North America "DeLong and Trautman have attacked the issue of managing talent and developing leaders in a manner that is systemic, grounded, insightful, and incredibly helpful for a CEO like me and for our entire senior management team." -- Peter Metca lf, CEO, Black Diamond Equipment "The authors' practical approaches to prioritizing risk and implementing creative talent solutions can help you maximize the payoff of these investments." -- Annmarie Nea l, Vice President, Cisco Center for Collaborative Leadership, Cisco Systems "DeLong and Trautman show leaders how to compete and win at the increasingly high-stakes game of talent management." -- Joseph W. Wilczek, CEO, Franciscan Health System "This book is full of practical insights that will make you a more effective leader today." -- Hy Pomerance, Chief Talent Officer, New York Life Insurance Company