Fierce, Inc. Offers Predictions for Business Communication, Leadership in 2012

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - Nov 2, 2011) - Fierce, Inc., a world-class communication training and leadership development company, today announced its predictions for human resources and talent management in 2012.

Over the past five years, the global business landscape has undergone many changes, including an influx of new technology, an increasingly globalized and disparate workforce, and growing generational diversity in the workplace. Fierce, Inc. is positioned to help organizations adapt to emerging cultural and communication challenges stemming from these shifts by teaching the core conversation and leadership skills that encourage collaboration, strengthen relationships, and create employee engagement across all levels. Through their work with Fortune 1000 companies across diverse market sectors, from aerospace and defense, to retail, to healthcare, Fierce understands the global factors impacting both businesses and their employees.

Predictions for Leadership Development Training in 2012:

1. The Three Generations Experience Rising Tension. While the past few years have seen a lack of recruitment of young talent, in 2012 the rise of social media, mobile, and high tech, will force many businesses to start making bigger investments in the youngest members of the workforce. Millennials entering leadership positions may cause a temporary strain on organizations that have not already shifted their cultures towards heightened cross-generational collaboration, open communication, and social and mobile technologies.

2. The Rush to Merge Results in Cultural Tensions. The 15 percent capital gains tax rate, a relic of the Bush-era tax cuts, is set to expire on December 31, 2012. Many companies looking to sell in the next three to five years will begin preparing to exit prior to the start of 2013 to take advantage of the lower tax rate. While there are excellent tax reasons to rush an acquisition, many companies are likely to lose sight of the less tangible challenges of corporate buy-outs, notably the integration of two unique corporate cultures and management styles, which can deeply impact both productivity and the bottom line.

3. E-Learning Demands Will Offer Opportunity. As disbursed and global teams make up an increasingly large share of the workforce, businesses will look to e-learning initiatives to reach this disparate workforce in a cost-effective way. This will create a whole new frontier for growth for technology providers, instructional designers, and virtual trainers poised to capitalize on this opportunity.

4. Veterans Face Workplace Challenges. During 2012, a significant number of U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Afghanistan. Upon returning home, many of them will leave military service to enter the civilian workforce. While many businesses will jump at the opportunity to hire veterans, the difference between military and civilian workforce styles can make the transition challenging for both parties. Businesses will grapple with veterans' divergent leadership and management styles, and they in turn will face significant hurdles integrating into new civilian jobs.

5. Businesses Invest In Training. With the economy still faltering, many businesses are struggling with how to recruit, train, and retain top talent. In 2012, businesses will begin investing more in the training and advancement of their own employees, as they seek to create stability and continuity in the face of continued economic uncertainty.

"The workplace is constantly evolving based on economic and social factors," said Halley Bock, CEO of Fierce. "Leaders are tasked with helping a business' human capital adapt to these shifts, and the long-term viability of the business is often dependent on how well they succeed in this task. By providing employees with the right tools to foster strong communication and leadership, organizations can create a collaborative, engaged workforce that creates a stable business model primed for growth."

About Fierce, Inc.

Fierce, Inc. is an award-winning leadership development and training company that drives results for business and education by developing conversation as a skill. Fierce creates authentic, energizing and rewarding connections with colleagues and customers through skillful conversations that lead to successful outcomes and measurable ROI. Tailored to any organization, Fierce principles and methods translate across the globe, ensure individual and collective success and develop skills that are practical, easy-to-learn and can be applied immediately. Fierce's programs have been successfully implemented at blue-chip companies worldwide, including Ernst & Young, Starbucks, Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, CARE and Crate & Barrel. Fierce has received numerous industry and business accolades. The company has twice been honored as an Inc. 500|5000 company, and in 2011 was named to TrainingIndustry.com's Companies to Watch list and Seattle Business Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For in Washington list.