Human capital professionals struggle to meet the needs of a changing global business landscape, according to a new report by The Conference Board and McKinsey & Co., “The State of Human Capital 2012: False Summit.”

Tremendous strides have been made over the past decade in areas like workplace diversity and flexibility, the report says, but the human capital function lags behind in effecting organizational success.

Specific opportunities to effectively manage the global talent pool in an unpredictable business environment include:

• Look ahead: anticipate and plan for the human capital of tomorrow
• Secure a steady, reliable pipeline for today’s skilled workers, and tomorrow’s leaders
• Develop strategies to reenergize your employees about what they do, and about what the organization stands
• Ensure that the HR/HC function becomes more agile than the organization as a whole

“In today’s global marketplace, particularly in such a hostile and unpredictable business environment, it is imperative that human capital executives and departments place themselves at the heart of strategy development conversations,” said Rebecca L. Ray, senior vice president of human capital, The Conference Board. “Human capital functions need to break out of their comfort zones, take risks and become a true business partner.”