08 Mar How to Identify a Good Leader
In nearly 20 years in management, I have learned that it can be extremely difficult to identify a potential leader. As much as many would like to suggest that there is a science to this, I would suggest that they are wrong. Why? Because one person cannot control the thoughts, emotions and actions of another, regardless of how hard they try.
Many have felt the frustration of being led by a clueless “leader”. I put the word leader in quotes here because this person is a leader in a very loose sense of the word. I can recall thinking, Just wait until I move into that role, things will be very different. I would imagine that most people would think the same exact thing.
As management, one task that is vital to the success of a business or team is being able to identify potential leaders. The problem is that it is hard to know if a person is actually going to be able to successfully take on a leadership role. I have personally been fooled by people who I was certain had all of the qualities to make a good leader, just to have them fail and give up. So how can this be avoided? Well, unfortunately there is really no iron-clad way to ensure that you have found a good leader. Fortunately, there are some characteristics that will at least give you a fighting chance at finding the right person.
1. Can the individual communicate effectively? I place this at the top of my list because I feel that it is the most important. A person may have all of the qualities you believe will make a good leader, but if they are unable to communicate effectively, their leadership ability will always be limited. Being able to maintain open lines of communication with team members and being able to be clear and concise will be vital to success in a leadership position. It is difficult to follow someone when you are not clear about where you are going.
2. Does the individual have the right attitude? I know that this is as subjective as it gets, but think about it. We all know a bad attitude when we see it. If someone is constantly complaining or focused on the negative, how can they ever be a leader? While I do believe in the power of positive thinking (I’m connecting with my inner Norman Vincent Peale now), I understand that it takes more than a positive attitude to get results. With that being said however, the wrong attitude will keep you from even getting started towards the result.
3. Does the individual take personal responsibility? This is important. Will the individual, when in a leadership role, take responsibility for the outcome, good or bad? While there is no 100% guarantee, just observe what happens when things go wrong when the person is not a leader. Do they try to highlight other team members’ failures and contributions to negative results? If they do, chances are they will not own up as a leader.
4. Does the person have confidence? For this, it will be important to understand the difference between confidence and arrogance. Arrogance will be touched on next, and it can be detrimental to a leader. Confidence, on the other hand, is vital. Make no mistake, a person in a leadership role that is unable to exude confidence ends up being transparent. Everyone will see right through them.
5. Does the person practice humility? The ultimate question is whether the individual is arrogant or humble in success. People will line up to follow a winner, but what happens when the winning stops, or at least slows? That leader that who has rested the credit for the wins with the team rather than him/herself will be able to retain those followers even when they are not always winning.
6. Is there commitment? Commitment can be easy to spot in a person, and it does not necessarily mean that a person tows the company line no matter what. Look for those team members who are willing to offer ideas that they feel could bring about improvement. That sort of willingness illustrates that the person is forward thinking and is looking out for the best interest of the organization.
While there will never be a 100% guarantee that a person will make a good leader, looking for these six characteristics in a person is a great start. These are all things that can be observed in a team member in their day-to-day activities. That guy in the office that is typically be in a sour mood and plays the blame game when things go wrong, is likely not leadership material. If you are looking for a leader on your team and you find someone who has most of these six characteristics, there is at least a good chance that you have a leader in the making.
About the author – Patrick Bodsford
Patrick has been a sales and management professional for close to 20 years. In that time, he has gained valuable experience in sales techniques, sales training, and overcoming the odds. Additionally, Patrick is well schooled in operations management and human resource management. He has also published several articles online covering a variety of topics.
Currently, Patrick is Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Structured Management Systems, Inc. (SMS) in Richmond, VA. SMS provides back office accounting software solutions to the petroleum, convenience store, service and energy industries. Patrick can be reached via email at [email protected]
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