Your Future Leaders Are Right in Front of You

When we talk about identifying and then developing leaders, we frequently find that potential leaders are everywhere – including within your own organizations.

They’re often closer than you think.

Leaders are not usually identified during the normal course of recruitment. A great example of this is baseball player Jacob deGrom, who was playing as a light-hitting shortstop. However, he was drafted by the New York Mets as a pitcher and, as a result, was named Rookie of the Year.

In business, leaders can be – and often are – discovered in similar ways. For example, you may be searching for a Sales Manager, COO, or CFO. During your hiring process, you’ll likely be looking for people who have experience with activities that are similar to those required in your specific leadership role.

And there’s nothing wrong with that. But that shouldn’t be the ONLY method by which you recruit leaders.

Your next leader could currently be in a lower-level position at your company, and it may even be a job that doesn’t really resemble the leadership role that you are trying to fill.

So, are you aware of those future leaders in your organization? The ones who could be doing great things for you in the future? Are you developing them? If you answered “no” to any of these questions, you might be overlooking a potential superstar.

Taking the time to assess the personalities of your internal high-potential employees will give you an inside look into their potential for other roles.

Just as the Mets discovered Jacob deGrom’s potential as a pitcher, disguised as a light-hitting shortshop, you just might find your next sales leader or C-level executive by using a personality assessment to gauge their potential and then implementing development programs to start that individual on a path up the ladder at your organization.

Before you go on an extended search to find a stranger who might not work out in the end, look internally at some of your hidden talent. It will be more cost-effective, efficient, and valuable to both you and the employee.

And then with a little training and development – as well as support from mentors and supervisors – you can help make that current employee the best worker for today as well as prepare them to be the best leader in the future.

Herb Greenberg, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO