We’ve touched on the challenge of vetting, scoping, and timing a project that requires specialized and/or emerging skills sets…and the value of a trusted partner in helping assess when, where, and for how long you’ll need a consultant or SME.
What does the need for agile talent look like on the ground? Here are just a few real-life cases for staff augmentation, straight from our client-partners:
- Large initiatives and learning events: When there’s a need for a large temporary team to launch a major, high-visibility learning initiative—for example, onboarding for a startup or a brand-new cloud certification program—we may have a use case for temporary talent. Initiatives like these need many hands on deck during development and launch, but resourcing needs drop to a maintenance level once they’re set in motion.
- Upskilling in-house L&D teams: Our core teams are exceptional, but with the ever-shifting learning needs they support—from leadership to product knowledge to gamified onboarding—they may not have the opportunity to develop deep expertise in key areas. Staff augmentation allows us to fill immediate skill gaps while also leveraging the engagement as a developmental opportunity for current team members. As they work together, in-house team members exchange fresh perspectives, experiences, and “war stories” with these seasoned experts. This exchange often sparks creativity and fresh ideas as the teams brainstorm, test, and ideate together. (Discover how one dynamic L&D leader made this happen on her team in this short video by Cheryl Haga.)
- Diversifying employment options: With 36% of all workers in the U.S. alone identifying as “independent,” a contingent or project-based staff augmentation strategy offers us access to a wider talent pool. It also opens up opportunities for folks who need flexibility due to caretaking, health, or family responsibilities. Some unicorn SMEs simply prefer the flexibility to be selective with their work, accepting only the engagements that best align with their values or interests.
If one or more of these situations sounds familiar, you may have a use case of your own for agile L&D talent. Reach out to explore potential matches in our network of high-performing L&D professionals and subject matter experts (SMEs).
