Bringing the Latent Leaders on Your Team to Light

Bringing the Latent Leaders on Your Team to LightBringing the Latent Leaders on Your Team to LightAn employee who is next in line for a management role according to the departments staffing flowchart is not necessarily someone who is well suited to lead. In fact, the best future leaders for your business may not be the most obvious choices.The latent leaders on your team may not even realize they have the right stuff. So, it may be down to you, as a manager, to help them binnensee - and realize - their potential.Heres some adviceSTEP 1 Identify the traits of leadershipIf an employee exhibits qualities like these, you likely have a future leader in your midstAbility to see the big picture - Does this person seem to understand how his or her contributions help to further the objectives not only of the department, but also the company, as a whole?An aptitude for inspiration - Does this employee rally colleagues to stay focused on and motivated to achieve a common goal, even when the y encounter unexpected setbacks or when stress is running high?Exceptional soft skills - Is this person known for his or her outstanding nontechnical skills and abilities, such as diplomacy, empathy and active listening? Be sure to take public speaking and writing skills into account, as well.Delegation know-how - Does this employee excel at time management, and know when to ask for assistance, so he or she can stay on track with high-value projects?Innovative thinking - Is this team member quick to assist in helping the business to solve problems, and to offer innovative ideas and approaches?STEP 2 Provide opportunities for growthOnce youve identified the latent leaders on your team, and determined that they are in fact interested in following this career ladder in your organization, connect them with opportunities that will help them to refine their leadership skills. Some suggestionsProfessional development opportunities - Job shadowing, training online or in-house, and - if there is budget available - financial assistance to earn industry certifications are just some of the professional development ideas your business can use help staff build essential leadership skills.Mentoring - Through mentoring arrangements - traditional or not - employees gain new insights, are exposed to different perspectives, and learn valuable skills that can help them to manage others and make business decisions effectively.Industry involvement - Membership in industry organizations can provide professionals with learning and networking opportunities that can help them build executive-level skills and raise their profile as emerging business leaders.Turn up the wattageBringing the latent leaders on your team to light is important to your business for two reasons First, its critical to your succession planning efforts, whether your company is big or small. Second, professional development can play an important role in a companys zurckhalten strategies.So, dont waste ano ther moment Help promising employees to see their potential and give the tools and support to make their leadership abilities shine bright.Do you need immediate access to top senior-level talent? Tags