Promoting from within your team can save you time and money, however moving a team player up to a supervisory position shouldn’t simply start with who wants it more, or who has been on your team the longest; you must also consider who would make the better leader- and it may not be the person that first springs to mind.
So, how do you tell the potential leaders from those who are simply the top performers?
Communication is Key:
Someone who will opt to do it all themselves rather than delegate, may shine as a top performer, but this can also be a sign of poor communication skills. If a team player is unable to clearly and concisely explain ideas, concepts and instructions, how can they be expected to lead a team? Also, by failing to communicate, they are taking away another team player’s opportunity to learn.
A leader is one who engages those around them, is patient and seen to be a go-to for assistance and focuses on building relationships.
Action and Accountability:
Leaders don’t stand around placing blame when things are falling down around them, they will spring to action and look for ways to correct the course and get everything back on track. When things return to normal, the leader of the pack will take the time to reflect on why and how things went wrong only in an effort to prevent history from repeating. Leaders will also publicly take responsibility when the mistakes are theirs, but won’t dwell on all that’s happened, choosing instead to look to the future.
Outcome Oriented:
A leader will not only focus on success within their own role, but the overall outcomes of the team and the business. They will be invested in company growth and be open with ideas and creative solutions that drive the vision of the business.
Your future team leader will be disciplined and have the ability to prioritise tasks, however will also be a great multi-tasker.
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” Lao Tzu. A leader, while confident in their abilities, may also be the quiet achiever who does not see out praise. As opposed to saying “look at me and all I’ve achieved” they will say “well done team!”
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