Free Agents

Published: April 4, 2013

The grace period has ended. Now that the economy has begun its recovery, gainfully employed talent has joined the throngs of unemployed in searching for the perfect gig. Just a year ago, you were supposed to be happy to have a job...any job. Now, tolerating unhealthy workplace culture is no longer a requirement of vocational survival.

The cycles of supply and demand now favor businesses that have embraced organizational wellness. That is where top tier talent wants to ply their trade. The greatest impact in the job market won’t be driven by the appearance of new open positions for laid off workers to fill. The change will be mostly influenced by which insightful businesses attract which rare talent away from which unsuspecting competitors.

There is no better time to cherry pick than now. Hello. Dare me to leave. Tempt me with your mission. Entice me with a chance to innovate. Surround me with resources and training. Guide me with a mentor. Challenge me to evolve. You had me with hello.

We are all free agents now.

Photo of Steve Ritter, the co-founder of The Center for Team Excellence

Steve Ritter

Steve Ritter is an internationally recognized expert on team dynamics whose clients include Fortune 500 companies, professional sports teams, and many educational organizations. He is on the faculty of the Center for Professional Excellence at Elmhurst University where he earned the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Steve is the former Senior Vice President, Director of Human Resources at Leaders Bank, named the #1 Best Place to Work in Illinois in 2006 and winner of the American Psychological Association's Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award in 2010. Steve provides ongoing workplace culture consultation to many thriving companies including Kraft Foods, Advocate Health Care, Kellogg's, the Chicago White Sox, AthletiCo, and Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.