Economic uncertainty reigns. But one thing you can depend on is the list of obligatory predictions as we close a disastrous 2008 and fearfully embark on 2009. Although most predictions are, well predictable—we’ve got roiling economic seas ahead—some are specific. Here’s some excerpts:

Herman Trend Alert: 2009 Workforce/Workplace Forecast includes:
Certain Skill Sets Continue to be in Short Supply.
Some Employers will make Serious Mistakes, Threatening their Very Survival.
and
Wise Companies will use this Time Well to Build Bench Strength.

Among Josh Bersin’s insights for 2009:
Succession Management Emerges as a Critical Issue.

Garner predicts:
By 2011, Organizations That Do Not Manage Their Employer Brands Effectively Will Fail to Attract Key Talent
and
…by 2013, More than 25 percent of the Content that Workers See in a Day will be Dominated by Pictures, Video or Audio

With an eye more toward what to do in 2009, a Taleo Research/HCI survey asked what will be your organization’s main focus in 2009.

It seems that 2009 will be a time to retain and motivate existing talent. That’s a good plan in the light of economic events. Now, as the calendar turns, we need to put the performance management practices—including career and succession planning—in place to make it so.