***This article is inspired by chapter 3 of John C. Maxwell’s book
“Developing the Leaders Around You” – “The Leader’s Primary Responsibility: Identifying Potential Leaders” ***
Leaders at the Ogilvy and Mather advertising agency had the practice to give each new manager a Russian doll set with the following message inside the smallest doll: “If each of us hires people who are smaller than we are, we shall become a company of dwarfs. But if each of us hires people who are bigger than we are, Ogilvy and Mather will become a company of giants.”
Whom you select as leaders TODAY greatly impacts your future success TOMORROW.
John Maxwell states, “By selecting followers rather than potential leaders, the leader of an organization limits its potential growth.”
In order to select high-quality leaders to join your team or organization, you must let go of any insecurities or worries that you may have about others being better than you. The reality is that the best leaders hire others who are better than they are in key areas so the team and organization become stronger.
Consider the following 10 qualities John Maxwell recommends when looking for potential leaders:
1 – Character
The character of a person is more important than their skills. You can train for skills, but you can’t train character. Choose wisely or pay a high price with a damaged culture.
2 – Influence
Consider whom a potential leader is influenced by and whom they influence. Remember, the true measure of leadership is influence; nothing more, nothing less.
3 – Positive Attitude
Attitude is like yeast in dough. A small amount makes a big impact. A positive person has the power to raise the morale on a team and throughout the organization. A negative person can kill morale the minute they walk in the room or get on the call. Evaluate if this is the type of person you and your team want to be around daily.
4 – Excellent People Skills
No matter what business you’re in, you’re in the people business. We’re either interacting directly or indirectly with people. We’re personally engaging or creating products and services for people to use. Without excellent people skills, a person will have a significant limit on their personal success and may hold your organization back from achieving greater results.
5 – Evident Gifts and Abilities
This may seem obvious, but you must make sure that your potential leader has the skills to do the job well. Even if they have an engaging personality, make sure they can meet the needed requirements. Just because you like someone doesn’t mean they’re the best skill fit.
6 – Proven Track Record
Past performance is a good predictor of future performance. Leadership is ultimately about producing results with and for others. Make sure your potential leaders have been successful in the past so they have a strong chance to help your organization be successful in the future.
7 – Confidence
Leadership is often challenging. If someone doesn’t have confidence in themselves, they will not last long. Do they believe in themselves? Do they confidently accomplish their work? These are important indicators to look for when selecting key leadership roles.
8 – Self-Discipline
The higher you rise in leadership, the more self-disciplined you need to be. If you need someone to tell you every step to take, you’re not yet ready to be a leader. Make sure your potential leaders can think and act on their own.
9 – Effective Communication Skills
Communication is much more than the words we say. In fact, tone and body language make up more than 90% of communication. Observe potential leaders in a variety of settings. See how they engage with others in-person, on the phone, in writing, etc.
10 – Discontent With the Status Quo
Leaders are never satisfied with the current state of things. They are continually looking to the future with a growth mindset. They want to expand and make a deeper impact. Confirm that your potential leaders aren’t so happy with where they and the organization are that they have no motivation to advance and become better.
These 10 characteristics are vital to selecting potential leaders who can help your team or organization advance well into the future. Keep these in front of you and use them as you observe potential leaders inside and outside your organization. Taking the time to evaluate potential leaders well up-front will pay incredible dividends long-term.
Until next time…make today GREAT!
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