Getting to know the employee of the future

Packer, chair of the SCANS 2000 Center at the Johns Hopkins University's In stitute fur Policy Studies, jumps into the free agent learner fray with thi s article, a fictional memo that suggests how a chief learning officer migh t brief a CEO on the phenomenon. Training & Development has defined free agent learners as people who are en gaged in self-directed learning that is ca reer specific and develops skill s that can promote employability and career success. Packer notes their imp ortance, writing: "The strategic challenge facing human resource managers a nd chief learning officers is attracting, developing, and motivating FALs.. .. Our bottom line depends increasingly upon them.... Innovative and energe tic, they are our keys to the emerging knowledge economy." Packer goes on to explain some of the socioeconomic conditions that gave ri se to the free agent learner phenomenon and concludes that "even though the perception of growing insecurity may exaggerate the real threat, it has tr iggered a sense among professionals that they need to manage their own care ers." The author wraps up his memo to the CEO of Anycompany.com with these recomm endations for retaining free agent learners: Challenge them. Recognize them. Track them. Transform them. Manage and mentor them.