Take heart. It has just been reported that Canada has emerged from the recession by posting an annualised growth rate of 0.4 percent in the third quarter. What does this mean for your business and, more importantly, your employees?

First of all, you're not alone! However, the question remains: Why are we unable to make great hiring decisions? The answer is simple: BIAS. Attracting candidates is easy today. Screening out all of the unqualified to discover a superior performer is the real challenge. This challenge also means we must look at the job objectively.

Managers today have a long list of responsibilities that go beyond the primary task of managing a team's performance. This causes less focus on working toward goals as a team; and without clear and consistent communication, employees struggle with self-management. As the fast-paced workplace puts a strain on time, how can we ensure effective communication is maintained?

To meet today's challenges, companies world-wide are searching for ways to do more with less. While many strategies offer streamlined processes and ways to add value, the biggest opportunities to meet this challenge lie within the talent themselves and are critical to future success: