Searching For The Next Rising Star.

Posted on April 13, 2011 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

When it is time to search for the next leader, the following traits will help you spot leadership potential in an individual:

1. Does the person offer a constructive spirit of discontent? There is a big difference between constructive discontent and a critical spirit. If somebody says, "There's got to be a better way to do this." - I check to see if there is leadership potential by asking, "Have you thought about what that better way might be?" If the person does not have ideas - he is only being critical, not constructive. But if the person does have ideas - then they may have a constructive spirit of discontent. This is a trait found in good leaders - for people locked in the status quo can not lead others into the future.

2. Do they offer practical ideas? Highly original people are often not good leaders because they are unable to judge if their creative ideas are realistic – many times they are unable to distance themselves and discern if their idea will work, or won’t. Not everybody with creative ideas is a potential leader - leaders are able to identify which ideas are practical, and which are not.

3. Is anybody listening? Potential leaders have an "EF Hutton" quality about them. When they speak, people listen. When some people talk, nobody listens – yet others tend to draw a crowd. Take notice of an individual who naturally attracts the ear of others. These people have influence.

4. Do people respect them? Peer respect doesn't reveal leadership ability, but it can show character and personality. Maxey Jarmen said, "It is not important that people like you. But what is important is that they respect you. If they just like you, they still may not follow you. If they respect you, they'll follow you, even if they don't happen to like you."

5. Are they open to receive critical feedback? Potential leaders know that they (and their personal opinions) have blind spots. Even veteran leaders never see the entire picture accurately – thus they embrace feedback and the perspectives of others. They are coachable.

6. Do they maintain a learning posture? Potential leaders reflect an inherent posture for learning. In a world of constant change - are they intimidated by this change, or do they embrace it with a learning and discerning posture?

7. Do they get things done? Has this person shown the ability to see a task to completion?
 

** There are other traits found in emerging leaders - but these mark some major indicators…