15 Ways to Spot Leadership Potential in Your Employees

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Leaders have to be cut from a very special cloth, and not everybody will be leadership material. It can be hard to identify those with the special skills early enough to help them flourish, but if you can spot those who have the potential to be great leaders then your business could reap the rewards in the future.

It is beneficial to recognize and then nurture leadership potential in your employees. They could be the future managers at your company, they could lead successful client meetings and help motivate staff.

Here are 15 signs to look out for if you want to spot the employees who could go on to greater things.

Key Takeaways:

• Look for employees who show a high level of engagement in their work and try to constantly improve themselves.

• Pay attention to how an employee responds to failures and setbacks, particularly when the setback wasn’t their own fault.

• Employees who communicate well and listen to the thoughts and needs of their coworkers have the potential to be good leaders.

Ways To Spot Leadership Potential In Your Employees

1. They show a higher level of engagement. If there’s a team member who always has thoughtful suggestions or asks the right questions, they may well be leadership material.

   People who take an interest in the wider company and in other job roles within the organization are born leaders, able to appreciate the bigger picture and where they fit in to it. It’s also true to say that leaders engage with other people more than they do with screens – if they’re good at talking to the rest of the team and don’t spend all day staring at their phone, they could well have the leadership qualities you need.

2. They’re comfortable with failure. The best leaders recognize that failure is part of life, and they know when it’s time to put it down to experience and move on. Nobody likes failing, but some people are better than others at learning the lesson and pushing forward, whether the failure is their own or someone else’s. If they hold a grudge because someone else fell short or they get too hung up on their own shortcomings, they’re not going to be good in a leadership role.

3. They have great communication skills. Great leaders are always great communicators, and those who can convey their thoughts and ideas in simple terms and make people understand them are the winners to back. Bear in mind that they may not be the most vocal people in the room. It’s not about how loud they speak or how much they say, but about when they choose to open their mouths and the quality of the words which come out. If they’re articulate, thoughtful and always choose their words carefully, they may well be among the leaders of tomorrow.

4. They know when to listen. Following on from that, far too many people will open their mouths before engaging their brains. Great managers know that you should listen twice as much as you speak if you want to lead well, and good leaders know that they don’t have all the answers. Look out for those employees who spend more time listening than they do talking – the quiet ones are often those who think and deliberate the hardest before reaching any decisions, and nobody wants a leader who bypasses other people’s thoughts and ideas in favor of their own.

5. They don’t need to show off. Affectation is ugly, and the best leaders know that they don’t need to show off to prove their worth to themselves or to others. If someone is good at their job and can inspire the rest of the team with a few carefully chosen words, they will make a brilliant leader one day. People who need to crow about their success or put on a show in front of their colleagues will just rub people up the wrong way, and they’re revealing some deep-rooted insecurities which won’t help them in a managerial role.

6. They get the best out of others. Good leaders know that success is all about getting the best from others, not using the situation to their own advantage all the time. If your employee is happy to give praise where it’s due and step back to let others shine, then you’re on to a winner. The best leaders demonstrate deep empathy and emotional intelligence, and are confident enough in their own abilities that they don’t feel the need to hog the limelight when things go well.

   Spot those who are pleased at the success of others and you may well have found someone with leadership potential.

7. They can multitask. Those in leadership roles need to be able to juggle lots of tasks at the same time without taking their eye off the ball. Test out those you think have leadership potential by giving them extra responsibilities and seeing how they manage. Those who take the additional work in their stride are the ones to earmark as the leaders of tomorrow, those who panic or struggle won’t do well in a leadership role.

8. They look for opportunities to continue education. The best leaders know that you never stop learning, and they know they will always have flaws and weaknesses to work on. They’re also open-minded to career development opportunities and seize every chance you offer them when it comes to picking up extra skills and undertaking training courses. Even those who have been in a senior position for decades should know that you never stop learning and improving, and there’s always more which can be done to make them even greater leaders.

   If you want to find the leaders of tomorrow, you need to focus on an individual’s potential rather than their current performance. Those who quietly strive to improve themselves and their wider team are almost always a better long-term prospect than those who shout the loudest and show an overabundance of confidence or self-belief.

9. They know when to ask for help. Great leaders understand when they need help and when to ask for it. Look at how employees respond when they do not know the answer to a question and see who admits they aren’t confident in the answer. These employees will often make an effort to find the correct answer instead of making up a wrong answer. This also shows their willingness to learn and are committed in acting in the best interest of the company.

10. They have a positive attitude. Leaders are someone team member go to for guidance with tasks and needing to navigate the company, so when they have a negative attitude that is less likely to happen. A Leaders attitude also has an influence on the attitudes and opinions of team members. A positive attitude not only improves morale but helps employees feel calm at work which can turn into a positive work environment.

11. They show initiative. Great leaders are also excellent problem solvers who strive to help the company in anyway. Look for any employees who are actively seeking professional development opportunities and seek for more responsibilities. Look for any team member who takes the initiative on a project or task instead of waiting for someone to assign the task to them.

12. They prioritize the success of the company. Leaders will often prioritize the companies goals over their own personal goals. This can often involve developing a solution-focused mindset. Look for any employee who understand that their actions and work can affect the success of the company.

13. They are able to stay calm under pressure. There will come a time when a difficult task or situation arises. A leader is someone who can stay calm and collected and create order during this difficult period. Look for any one who is able to keep their cool during it and are able to focus on finding the solution. Having someone like this can be valuable to the team because you can rely on them to make rational decisions under pressure.

14. They go above and beyond. A big difference between a regular employee and a potential employee is someone who is able to expand on responsibilities and do more than is required to get the job done. This could be someone who helps out in departments that are down a person or takes on an extra project to help it get done before the deadline. Look for someone who has more drive and ambition than everyone else.

15. They adapt well to change. Change is necessary for a company to grow and expand. Look for those who are able to adapt well to the changes and succeed even with the change. Knowing how to adapt is a crucial skill needed for every good leader. A person who can adapt well to change will be able to switch their methods and ensure that things are done without wasting any time or resources.

Why It’s Important To Identify Leadership Potential

Identifying potential leaders and focusing on developing their leadership skills helps a company in many ways. One way is to help ensure that the company has a future and someone who wants to make sure the business is successful. Investing in potential leaders also improve how your employees interact with clients and customers and motivates employees to take on new responsibilities within the workplace.

Looking for leadership with the company instead of externally means that it can improve employee retention rates. Employees want to feel like they have a future with the company and grow with the company. Promoting employees to leaders help them feel valued and that they are making a difference with the company. This will also help lower recruiting and hiring costs for the future and avoid any potential failed hires.

A good leader is someone who can:

• Communicate clearly

• Delegate and make the most of the team’s strengths

• Be responsible and dependable

• Balance the individual needs of their team members and be flexible when necessary

• Inspire and motivate their team members

Final Thoughts

Spot the talented individuals early and nurture their leadership skills if you want to keep them on board. Not everyone can handle the unique pressures which come with leading a team, but if you can spot their potential early in their career you will help them – and your business – flourish in the future.

Author

Taylor Berman

Taylor is a freelance writer from Pennsylvania. Taylor got into writing because she enjoys writing articles that help people and loves creating stories that inspire. She earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and public relations with an interest in communications media from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.