At the Interchange next on October 7, we will be focusing on a topic that you have probably seen in quite a few headlines recently: the labor shortage. 

The Context: Across industries, organizations are facing unprecedented workforce challenges. Talent shortages are no longer a temporary disruption but a structural reality with long-term business implications. At the Interchange we will reframe the challenge and explore practical strategies that you, as a CEO, can use to mitigate risk and unlock growth.

To prepare for the discussion, please read these short articles from McKinsey and Brookings.

Questions to Consider:

• CEO Reflection:

  • What assumptions am I making about the labor market returning to “normal”?

  • Which parts of my business are most exposed to workforce constraints?

  • Where could labor shortages directly affect growth or profitability?

• Reframe thinking from reactive to strategic:

  • From: “We can’t hire enough people.”

  • To: “How can I redesign work, leverage talent differently, and create a compelling organization that attracts the workforce we need?”

  • Are we holding unnecessary assumptions about what “qualified” means?

• Treat workforce strategy as a C-suite priority: 

  • If labor shortages are a top 3 business risk, what would I do differently this quarter?

  • If I couldn’t hire anyone new for a year, how would we meet our objectives?

  • Which metrics should I personally track to stay on top of workforce health? (e.g., retention of critical roles, internal mobility, etc.)

Preparation Exercise:

• Map your biggest growth initiative and then list the talent risks that could derail it. Then rank which risks are controllable vs uncontrollable, and be ready to brainstorm-and coach each other-on mitigation strategies.

Looking forward to a fruitful time together!