Expert Panel: 16 expert strategies for solving today’s workforce gaps
Extracted from: 16 expert strategies for solving today’s workforce gaps| 07-10-2025
Hiring freezes. Burned-out teams. Critical roles left unfilled for months. Labor shortages are forcing business owners to rethink how work gets done - and fast. Some are turning to automation while others are reshaping roles or tapping into overlooked talent sources. What they share is a willingness to act decisively and restructure for impact.
To help you find your edge, 16 Fast Company Executive Board members reveal the strategies that are helping them close workforce gaps and keep momentum strong.
Shayne Fitz-Coy, Sabot Family Companies
RETHINK EMPLOYEE ROLES.
Ask: “Is this a shortage of people, or a shortage of clarity?” We often over-hire to compensate for fuzzy roles and bad systems. Instead of filling seats, redesign jobs to matter more. When we consolidated three part-time customer service roles into one full-time “client success architect,” applications tripled. People don’t want jobs; they want ownership, growth, and purpose.
