Latest updated: 24 August 2023

Effective leadership is the critical factor for building a successful company. Therefore, it's important to always keep an eye on your employees and try to identify leadership potential. Such potential might not necessarily reside in the employee who always stands out and speaks the loudest; what's more important is that the future leader is deeply committed to the company and constantly strives for personal growth.

How do you recognise a future leader? This question is of utmost importance for all businesses. Company vision and mission are essential, but it's the leader who garners support or opposition, and it's the leader who ignites or dampens engagement. Hence, actively nurturing the leadership pipeline is essential.

The first question to ask is what qualities are required to be a good leader in your specific company. This can vary depending on the nature of the business and the corporate culture. However, having a clear vision of what you're looking for is crucial. Even though you're searching internally, it can be beneficial to create a profile similar to a job advertisement, just to articulate the expectations for a leader within your organisation.

Passionate about the Business – and Communicates Effectively

Nevertheless, there are qualities that are important for all leaders, regardless of the type of business. A future leader should be intrinsically motivated. The primary driving force shouldn't be about money or personal recognition, but rather a genuine interest in developing businesses and performing thorough work. The future leader must possess the ability to understand and take interest in the entire business while also viewing their individual role as part of the whole.

Another essential skill for a future leader is communication. Communication, in turn, can be broken down into several attributes. The best communicators often listen far more than they speak; one should be cautious of assuming that someone who always talks and never lets others speak is a good leader. A good leader listens, comprehends, and has the ability to grasp the core of what others think, feel, or suggest. Effective communicators can often synthesise the input they receive and elevate it to something even better. Individuals with leadership potential often express themselves succinctly yet clearly and eloquently.

Another trait to look for, which is tied to all the points discussed above, is the ability to both ask for help and offer assistance to others. A future leader is unpretentious and doesn't hesitate to seek help from a colleague, but is also someone others frequently turn to for assistance. This is not just because the person is competent, but also because they're perceived as open and interested in others' challenges.

Desire to Grow and Emotional Resilience

Future leaders should also have a keen interest in continuously developing and learning new things. An important quality is what's referred to as a Growth Mindset, which means believing that one can learn and grow as a person if they approach things in the right way. They're not a hopeless victim of their ignorance or lack of talent in a particular subject. With the right kind of training and with support from those who possess the desired expertise, anyone can essentially learn anything.

Last but not least, to be a good leader, a certain level of emotional resilience is required. As a leader, one must handle failures and setbacks appropriately (both their own and others') and see them as sources of knowledge and experience. Additionally, they should be emotionally stable individuals who hold a positive outlook on life and have the ability to remain calm in stressful situations. Without this emotional stability, designating someone as a leader would do a disservice to both the company and the individual. Leadership always poses emotional challenges, and as a leader, one is expected to be the stable point in sometimes turbulent work environments.

These are some of the qualities you should look for in future leaders. However, remember that you're looking for potential, not finished executives. Potential is something that can be explored and developed. Employees with high potential can receive support and guidance from a coach or mentor to attain the necessary development on the path to a future leadership role.

Summary: The Art of Identifying Future Leaders

1. Clearly define the specific qualities that are important for a leader in your organisation. For example, formulate a job advertisement, even if you're looking internally.
2. Attempt to identify employees who are deeply committed to the business, are effective communicators, possess a Growth Mindset, and are emotionally resilient, in addition to having the qualities you defined in step 1.
3. Provide employees with leadership potential the opportunity to develop, such as through coaching, mentoring, and/or leadership programs.