Being Part of the IT Labor Solution

I just received my latest copy of InformationWeek and enjoyed Rob Preston's article "Are You A Complainer Or Part Of The Solution?"  His summation is spot on:

In the broad scheme of things, if you're a tech employer having trouble finding good people, ask yourself these questions before you point fingers at others: Are you training and cultivating the technology professionals you now have?  Are you providing them with a clear career path?  Are your recruiters IT savvy - do they know where to look and have the chops to evaluate talent?  Are you reaching out to professional associations and schools?  Are you truly committed to IT as a competitive advantage?

If you're a tech employee having trouble advancing your career, you're not off the hook either.  Are you keeping current on technologies and best practices?  Do you understand - really understand - what matters to a business and approach your technical work with a business mind-set?  Do you work on your communication skills?  Do you network like mad?

It's too easy to point fingers in the war for talent.  The challenge is in the solution.