Spotting Leaders Early

Identifying Tomorrow's Game Changers

This week's thoughts came out of discussions around succession planning, and developing and coaching managers successfully into new roles.

Can you spot leaders when you meet them? Are they born, made or can you build on qualities they have?

How can I identify future leaders?

Everybody has a different version of the ideal leader. As an executive coach, I frequently have these conversations around "How can I spot future leaders and develop them to support the growth of the business?"

I'm a advocate for paying attention to traits and behaviors of people, because people often reveal their leadership potential early. They are giving you signals on what they're made of, from the first meeting.

So, what could you you look out for in developing your leaders of tomorrow? Take a look at your team and see what jumps out at you It's always worth digging a little deeper to uncover the potential for leadership.

Are your team members open to learning, adaptable, and willing to change their approach to achieve their goals?

If the selection seems challenging, don't hesitate to widen your enquiry and search for the game changers of tomorrow outside the company and industry.

My top 8 List for Spotting Leaders

Here's my own high-level list.

It's based on my own experience of blending psychometric profiling with coaching leadership teams, over time, and listening to how they communicate and interact with others.

I have translated this into my own descriptions and hope it gives you food for thought, if you are in leadership development mode.

Few would disagree that leadership traits tend to jump out to meet you when you interact with a magnetic leader. We can all name someone who embodies the traits of a natural leader. Do you know anyone with these 8 listed below?

1. The Self-Driven Achiever/Self-Actualizer

Genuine leaders are self-actualizers, consistently focused on personal and professional development and self-improvement.

They are lifelong learners and continually refine their interpersonal skills, and reflect on the quality of their interactions every day, to lead better.

These proactive people take initiative, making things happen without waiting for specific direction, learning and refining their strategy as they go. Give them responsibility, and they'll take it to the next level, often out-creating their predecessors.

2. The Strategic Navigator/The Chess Player

Effective leaders possess strategic thinking skills, setting bold visions and guiding teams toward their objectives.

They play the chess player's game; thinking several moves ahead, crafting innovative solutions, thinking at many levels of the organization, and keeping an eye on the bigger picture and road ahead.

Strategic navigators blaze trails, carving out new and more effective ways of getting things done and leading others. If someone is entrenched in the details (tactical), transitioning to a strategic mindset may be a challenge to them, when they step into a leadership role.

3. The Magnetic Communicator/Master of Messaging

Leadership hinges on effective communication. Great leaders distill complex topics into simple, engaging messages, always keep an eye on how people respond to their message and communication. They listen actively, providing clear guidance tailored to diverse audiences and rallying teams around shared missions.

Magnetic communicators unite others through a compelling vision and adapt their communication to resonate with each team member.

People want to listen to them and get things done because they are inspired by the message.

4. The Insightful Relationship Builder/The People Reader

Exceptional leaders excel at understanding people and situations, connecting authentically and showing their humanness.

They have the ability to gauge team dynamics, assess needs, motivations, and potential of each person. We often say, they can read people like a book.

Armed with this insight, they build trusted relationships, getting the most from their teams by knowing when to challenge and when to step back and observe. They match their communication style to each individual.

5. The Agile Problem Solver/The Meta-Thinker

Leadership demands fluid thinking and adaptability. Agile problem solvers excel at critical analysis and creative problem-solving, making informed decisions, even in ambiguous situations. They continually explore from different angles and levels, and bring multiple solutions to the table. They are always thinking of new ways to do things, shortcuts for all the right reasons, with a willingness to let go of the old for better solutions. Agility is a must in our fast-changing world with generative AI moving to center stage. An agile leader will rise to the occasion. The Meta-Thinker thinks ALOT about how they think about people, strategies and decisions.

6. The Versatile Coach/Living in the Question

An effective leader can seamlessly transition between managing tasks (KPIs) and driving people excellence. I call them the Versatile Coach.

They think from the question as a default skill; asking coaching questions everyday ~ of the business, themselves and their team ~ What are we ignoring that is affecting our growth? Whose talent are we not using or have we not hired? What is it costing our business? Who has great ideas that we haven't given the time to implement?

They optimize processes and navigate people dynamics seamlessly, which require distinct skill sets. They switch leadership styles, drawing out the tacit knowledge of their team to inform their business decisions. Versatile coaches know when to direct, when to guide, when to coach.

7. The Authority Leader/Business Expert

While deep expertise isn't a measure of a good leader, leaders should possess in-depth business and industry knowledge, and embody authority on your business after a time in your industry.

When leaders become "your business" matter experts, they earn respect and make an impact. Then they can make solid business decisions. They do so by gleaning the important details that drive a business to success from everybody around them.

A sharp, open, dynamic learner, with strong business acumen can learn about your industry and lead with authority. I believe you can teach a strong leader your industry so they become an informed authority leader in your sector.

8. The Fresh Thought Leader/Ideas Generator

A fresh thought leader is going to look for new ways to approach the business. How long a person knows your business is not necessarily an indicator of their talent to move dynamically into the future. If it ain't broken doesn't mean it's still fit for purpose! While experience is valuable, ambition can plateau and people get set in their ways. When identifying future leaders, don't rely solely on how long a person has been in the industry.

Consider the value of fresh ideas and new eyes looking into the business. Keep your eye on high-potential individuals capable of bringing strategic change, because they think in possibilities.

Being an excellent task executive and subject matter expert doesn't guarantee managerial prowess. Fresh thought leadership is the currency of an effective future leader.

Have you got a healthy leadership pipeline?

As you cultivate your leadership pipeline, you might have a conversations on the traits you need in your team to be a disruptor in your industry and thrive. Look beyond the stock competencies, and take a fresh look at your team. Seek the change-makers who can drive your organization toward a brighter future with mental agility. With the right leaders on board, you are onto a stronger future.

Building exceptional leadership teams can come from tracking and promoting the people who have some of these traits naturally.

Look for the dynamic thinkers, the self-actualizers and people builders. Then leadership development becomes an easier task.

#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipQualities

What else can I read from Shiera?

You may also be interested in reading When Culture Eats Strategy for Breakfast . How well-intended strategies get burned by company behaviours.

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For executives and leaders who want to know more about the Language of Leadership, connect with me. If you would like to learn more about leadership training, or coaching around this topic, contact Shiera here.

About the Author:

Shiera is an Executive Coach and trainer with a passion for transformational coaching, the language of leaders, and strategic communication. With over 16 years of experience and expertise in coaching executives and leaders to enhance their impact in how they communicate and interact in the workplace.

As a Master Practitioner in NLP, with extensive training in Meta-Coaching and cutting-edge Neuro-semantic approaches to Change Management and Executive Development, she brings a wealth of knowledge to coaching, with a background that spans various aspects of business, including sales, communication, and people development training and coaching.