Follow The Money - A Business Primer

"Follow the money" is a mantra repeated by investigative journalists around the world: simply asking "who stands to benefit financially?" produces scoops in the reporting world.  The world of finance does nothing but follow the money. Chasing deals. Maximizing profit. And the best sales people have a refined sense of "smelling" money - knowing how and when to close a deal. 

And so this morning I ponder the human capital implications of the seismic shockwaves sent round the world when the price of oil hit $100 a barrel.  From yesterday's WSJ:

In the U.S., which remains the most oil-dependent industrialized nation, oil at $100 would threaten consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, and is already expected to soften as home values decline. Oil's rise is sending up the price of gasoline, the most visible price in the U.S. economy, and that has a major impact on consumer psychology. Readings of consumer confidence have been weakening recently.

"If oil stays at the price it's at, you could see gasoline prices at $3.60 or $4 a gallon, which is absolutely frightening," said Paul Ashworth, senior U.S. economist at Capital Economics, a London-based research firm. "It's going to have a fairly devastating impact."

I  have always believe there is opportunity in change.  And, my friends, change is at hand. The question becomes "Are you ready to capitalize on it?"  Great talent will be dislodged as the change shakes out. Of course, the best executives and technologists will only be available for an instant.  So you need to have a way to position your recruiting practice out in front of economic events. 

Leveraging human capital intelligence in retained search and to drive candidate pipelines is the only way you and your company make sure your recruitment practice can profit from impending change.