When my boss asked me to head the 2017 Leadership Training in the company, I was extremely excited. I would finally get to showcase my organization and hosting skills, after all. It was a dream come true for me.
But then, the boss gave me a bizarre instruction: invite students with leadership potentials from nearby universities. In my boss’s mind, it would be ideal for catching the interest of such kids early so that they might want to apply for a job at our company at the right time. I didn’t know any college student, but I couldn’t say no, either, I decided to roam around universities and see which students were leader material.
To my surprise, I found 30 of them. The group consisted of activists, honor students, presidents of school clubs, etc. I picked these kids because they all showed signs of a potential leader:
Excellent Communicator
Leaders can get their point across without feeling the need to shout. They choose their words well and do not let emotions take over their system, even in situations where it’s understandable to be upset. Because of that, you commonly see them surrounded by a massive group of fans and supporters.
Problem Solver
Problems hardly faze leaders. For sure, it saddens them, but the will to find a solution comes soon after. For instance, if the club has insufficient funds for an activity that the entire university can benefit from, the leader organizes events to raise funding. They won’t postpone the action or sit idly like a lazy person.
Ambitious
Being ambitious has been perceived to be a selfish thing, but it is not. You can find this trait in almost every leader in the world. They all have a vision that they want to come to fruition for the good of everyone. If they have such a dominant status, it will be possible for them to do what past leaders should have done.
If you get ahold of potential leaders in your company, try to groom them instead of alienating them. What’s worse than not finding a suitable successor, after all, is letting one slip out of your grasp.