If companies want to retain top talent they must pay attention to the good people they have, according to Bob Moore, the guest speaker of the Bermuda Employers' Council leadership conference says.

The conference starts tomorrow at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess and Mr. Moore, the author of Turning Good People Into Top Talent, will be speaking about why pursuing and developing talent should be priority for any organisation.

The one day conference will also feature a CEO panel discussion exploring leadership challenges with panellists including Butterfield Bank chief executive Alan Thompson, Belco CEO Garry Madeiros and BAS Group president Eugene Bean.

"I am going to discuss a concept I refer to as becoming a top talent ACE (Alignment, Credibility and Empowerment)," Mr. Moore said.

"I am saying to management and executives that to turn good people into top talent there must be alignment between your organisation's purpose, vision, values, goals, procedures and the roles you want employees to play."

Mr. Moore said apart from making money, people want clarity as the raison d'?tre of a company.

"Many organisations in the US have lost their credibility with their employees, directors and their customers and other stakeholders," he said.

"That has a lot to do with values and one of our panelists on the Rising Stars panel discussion said he was attracted to his company because they are value driven."

He said empowerment begins with an attitude on the part of management in trusting people to do the job they were hired to do and that will result in higher levels of engagement.

"The research from a Gallup Poll has discovered that around the world about 25 percent of the workforce is engaged, while 75 percent are disengaged and significant percent actively disengaged, spreading ill will and discontent."

"If you have a $5 million payroll and if you have 70 percent of your workforce only giving you a 50 percent payoff, then you are losing 35 percent of your payroll and paying the cost of not having engagement."

Mr. Moore said alignment, credibility and empowerment creates the opportunity of having an effective management programme.

Key Leadership Strategies For A Winning Company starts on Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Harbourview Ball at the Hamilton Princess until 5 p.m.

The conference is sponsored by Ernst & Young and The Bottom Line Magazine and tickets are $175 for members of the Bermuda Employers' Council and $185 for non-members.

To register or obtain more information contact Pam Semos at 295-5070 or by email at psemosbec.bm