“If you think hiring professionals is expensive, try hiring amateurs.”

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The success, stability, and growth of an organization depend on its people. The experience, connections, industry knowledge, technical know-how and people skills of every person in your company—from leadership to packers and everyone in between—are the primary factors that differentiate you from your competitors. If you don’t consider the recruiting and retention of talent a core competency in your organization, you need to ask yourself, “Why not?”

Our contributors to this feature share a great deal of wisdom and experience regarding the critical practices of hiring the best people and incentivizing them to stay. Some of them specialize in HR, others in technology, and all possess a background in industry leadership. Their stories present unique insights into the important contributions to productivity and innovation that the best talent plays, and its role in maintaining a competitive edge.

Before you select your next hire or make your next decision regarding employee training and benefits, read what your colleagues have to say here about the foundational aspects of attracting the best people and holding on to them for the long term.