This year’s 2023 TeamKC Training Camp brought together more than 300 recruiters, HR leaders and community partners to connect, learn from one another and hone in on the latest talent trends affecting KC.

Here’s the play-by-play breakdown:

2023 TeamKC Scouting Report 📝

Breaking down 15 national talent attraction and retention trends and analyzing their implications on the KC region’s talent landscape, the TeamKC Scouting Report uses timely data to provide an in-depth overview on how KC can lead in the global race for talent.

Download the 2023 TeamKC Scouting Report. 

TeamKC Priorities and a Look Ahead ⬆️

TeamKC Managing Director, Danielle Hilton, and board co-chair, Lauren Bertram, kicked off the program, sharing TeamKC’s priorities:

• Grow KC by attracting new employers and providing support for existing companies.

• Create tools and resources that showcase KC alongside all of our talent strategies.

• Share best practices and insights in a dynamic way.

• Work together to tell KC’s story to the world.

 

MVP Award 🏆

Congratulations to the Kansas City Aviation Department on the successful opening of the new KCI Airport Terminal! 👏👏

The state-of-the-art terminal will play a key role in helping organizations recruit talent to the region for years to come, serving as the first impression candidates have of KC and setting expectations of what our region has to offer. Thank you to Pat Klein, Justin Meyer, Jade Liska, Fred O’Neill and Melissa Cooper for your leadership throughout this multi-year project.   

Read more about the new KCI Terminal + talent in the Kansas City Business Journal. 

Building Incredible Teams in the Future of Work Keynote 💼

Eric Termuende, a best-selling author and internationally recognized thought leader, shared his insights with attendees on how to build incredible teams in the future of work. 

Eric reported that the future is unpredictable and the talent shortage isn’t going anywhere. As birth rates continue to decline and retirement rates increase - the talent gap is real. However, you can build teams that thrive in the future of work.

Check out the top takeaways:  

• Build a deep sense of trust. A survey found that teams that trusted each other were 15 times as likely to be engaged. 

  1. Heroes

  2. Heartbreak

  3. Hopes 

  4. History 

• Plant your flag. Don’t try to be the perfect organization for anyone. Be the right place for the right people. “When we try to be everything to everyone, we end up being nothing to anyone.” 

• Leverage your best recruiters. Your best recruiters are your employees telling the story of your company culture. Share those stories. 

Halftime Break with Chiefs Fit 🤸

Chiefs Fit fitness instructor, Anna, led us in a halftime break stretch that left us feeling energized and motivated! We dropped some highlights from the routine here for you to use whenever you need a midday pick-me-up. 👇

Need some quick blood flow? Try rocking in a circular motion while sitting in your desk chair. 

Want a break from sitting? Break into a standing rag doll. Hinge at the hips and let your body relax. 

Feeling anxious? Tap your chest with your fingers. This will help your brain calm down while focusing on something else.

Hot Topic Huddles 🤝

Key leaders from the TeamKC network hosted conversations on key topics shaping KC’s talent ecosystem. Didn’t get to hit all the huddles you wanted to? We’ve got the highlights: 

Work-Life Integration & Manager Wellness | Group O’Dell

• Coach your people to be able to say no. This is a skill that will go a long way in terms of wellness. 

• Build a foundation of trust in your team that people will get their work done. 

• Many organizations have created internal leadership training programs for managers. This allows managers to gain the skills and confidence they need to succeed. 

Pay Equity & Transparency | Burns & McDonnell

• Look to implement salary review windows throughout the year.

• Adjust internal salaries before hiring externally. 

• You have to plant your flag in what you believe in. If a candidate is asking for more than what your organization can equitably give, then you have to be willing to stand by that and walk away. 

Talent-Related Technology | T-Mobile

• Utilize AI tools to help neutralize bias in job postings and talent sourcing.

• Many organizations are taking a measured approach to hiring and focusing on right-sizing their workforce due to economic uncertainty. 

Upskilling & Reskilling Talent | Children’s Mercy Hospital 

• Look to create internal training programs to fill the needs of your high volume positions. 

• Demonstrate your commitment to your employees’ professional growth. 

Candidate Experience | Dairy Farmers of America

• Provide shadowing opportunities, access to one-on-one conversations and internships to students. Gen Z wants to “try it” before committing. 

• Implement consistent outreach, transparent expectations and clear timelines to candidates. 

Creative Talent Sources | JE Dunn Construction 

• Engage Gen Z through robust and creative internship programs. With an increase in virtual burnout, focus on in-person opportunities this year to help grow relationships and demonstrate culture. 

• Provide modern health such as career coaching and mental health programs. 

See the full photo library on Facebook.

Thank you to everyone who attended - it was a blast! For more info on or to get set up with the TeamKC tools and resources mentioned in the program, contact Danielle Hilton.