Shanghai, 8th May 2020 – research by Morgan Philips Group, the global headhunting, recruitment and talent consulting firm, reveals that employees expect their senior executives to lead by example in helping steer their organisations through periods of extreme uncertainty.

The survey, which went out to over 5,000 professionals in the Greater China region, provides a detailed and in-depth picture of the talent landscape in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. And with COVID-19 having had such a huge impact on the region, it isn’t surprising that the spotlight is on leaders and leadership qualities.

Patty Yang, Managing Director, Taiwan, Morgan Philips Group, says, “To be a great leader involves a complex combination of vision, actions and the way you treat people. Inspirational leadership is essential to business success, and that usually means excellent financial results.”

As for the top competencies that employers are looking for when hiring, adaptability features highly, as individuals need to demonstrate agility, whether it be upskilling, learning new skills or taking on new projects to boost employability. Having an international mindset and language skills were also deemed important.

Although the Coronavirus has taken its toll on the region, businesses need to understand the drivers of a multi-generational workforce. “Millennials and Gen Z have given clear indication that organisations with clarity of purpose are seen as the most attractive places to work – which will have a positive knock-on effect on retention,” notes Charles-Henri Dumon, CEO & Founder, Morgan Philips Group.

Employee retention remains a pivotal part of every organisation’s talent strategy. As David Ng, MD for Mainland China & Hong Kong, points out, companies must plan for the upturn, “Although employees may not be as mobile given economic uncertainty, organisations must pay attention to engagement or risk losing talent when the economic landscape improves.”

About the survey
The survey sample consisted of over 5,000 respondents in the Greater China region. These were mainly experienced and senior professionals working in both management and specialist roles, including C-Suite execs, across a wide range of sectors.

About Morgan Philips Group
With a global footprint across 4 continents, 22 countries, and 600+ consultants, Morgan Philips Group is radically changing the headhunting, recruitment and talent consulting business with a range of modern, innovative service lines designed to succeed in the new world of work. Our approach to combining high-touch consultancy with worldwide search capability and digital sourcing technologies allows us to offer organisations a range of talent solutions. These include executive search, talent consulting, temporary and permanent recruitment, outplacement, managed solutions and interim management.

www.morganphilips.com