PETALUMA, CA — Executives at large US companies say that a skills gap persists for their businesses. Nine out of ten are concerned they won’t be able to find people with the skills they need in the next one to two years.
In response to this, Creative Age Leadership announces its new program to help companies close the skills gap by leveraging an untapped candidate pool while increasing the effectiveness of their existing workforce. According to a 2013 survey by Adecco USA, 92% of top executives report there is a skills gap.
“Companies are overlooking qualified candidates who have the technical skills, but they don’t always interview well,” says Heather Furby, Co-Founder and CEO of Creative Age Leadership. “I specialize in showing executives and company leaders how to open their minds to the competitive advantage of hiring an untapped labor force of people with disabilities.
Simply by bringing in this new perspective, companies can create and maintain a highly innovative culture, allowing them greater employee retention and the ability to get their ideas to market in a faster, more effective manner.”
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal agrees with Furby’s idea. In the article, Jose Velasco, the head of the Autism Initiative at SAP Software, says that [people with disabilities] bring a different perspective to the workplace, which helps with efficiency and creativity. The article also explains that a policy at Freddie Mac mortgage lenders states, “harnessing the unique skills of people with autism has the potential to strengthen our business and make us more competitive.”
“This is about a new perspective on the job market,” explains Furby. “It’s about banishing the box that excludes people who are technically fully qualified to do the work, but who don’t always “fit in.” The highly customizable programs first teach leaders the mindset they need to get past fears and objections in order to see the value of this workforce. Then they move to the strategy required to hire people with disabilities into their company. “We show companies the business advantages of diversifying their workforce to include these people,” says Furby.
Nearly half of the executives say the biggest skills gap is defined by the lack of ability to communicate, create, collaborate and lead. Hiring people with disabilities improves communication and collaboration amongst all employees. Not only is this a solution to the skills gap, it leads to more creativity and innovation for the entire workforce. This is not just theory in a classroom. Creative Age Leadership has delivered results.
“I’ve experienced three-years-worth of leadership training in three days!” – Alex Iglecia, Creator of Being Epic and Your Joy Story
“We learned about new and different ways to be a leader, to express our leadership, but actually experience it as well. Not just learn about it, but also actually apply it. It’s something I can take with me right into my teams and others I work with immediately.” – Andy Sulak, Founder, Ultra Sports Live
“This is transformative work! I have additional passion to move forward with my mission.” – Margaret Farman, Executive Director, United Cerebral Palsy North Bay
Creative Age Leadership “works with companies to turn diversity into dollars.”
For more information visit www.creativeageleadership.com.