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The 8 Attributes of Potential Leaders

Posted 6 years ago

In any business, it can be difficult for employers to identify potential leaders with the right mix of behavioral characteristics, attributes and experience. In addition to using objective tools like workplace behavioral assessments, employers can look for specific attributes linked to universally successful leadership. In this week’s story, executive coach Tammy Holyfield discusses the specific attributes she’s identified during her years working with c suite executives. Holyfield believes these eight attributes are key indicators of successful leadership in almost any modern business environment.

The 8 Attributes of Potential Leaders

by Tammy Holyfield

Developing leaders in an organization is vital to it’s success. But identifying potential leaders is not always easy. Looks can sometimes be deceiving. We see someone who is doing well in their current position and we tap them for promotion. We can get caught up seeing someone who has great intelligence or personality and think they have what it takes to be a great leader. We have all heard someone with an authoritative presence deliver a bold vision that later turned out to be nothing but ego and hot air. Great leaders have more than the appearance of leadership; they know how to get results.
Here are eight attributes for identifying people to be potential leaders:
1. The ability to position or re position – These characteristics surface in people who can find ideas for business that meet a need. It is a real asset to find a person with the ability to position or re position. This kind of leader enables an organization to solve a problem or answer a question while being supported by the available market and sustaining a profit.
2. The ability to forecast future market trends – These people can detect patterns and see things others can’t. They can think a process through and see possibilities to capitalize on the position. This is a skill that can put an organization on the offense in a complex and ever changing world.
3. Aligning people – Identifying and promoting people with strong social skills, who can align the social system of an organization will result in increased effectiveness. Imagine having the right people in the optimal positions utilizing their gifts, talents, and skills. Couple that with people who are informed, equipped, and have the right behaviors, and you have the making of engaged employees. Informed and engaged employees are able to make better decisions faster. That is the key to achieving greater results – alignment.
4. Evaluating performance and making necessary changes – Great leaders not only align social systems but they calibrate people based on their actions, decisions, and behaviors, and match them to the non-negotiable skills of the specific job. They can also evaluate performance based on the overall corporate objectives. Even better is a leader who can see things need to change, and take the action to change them.
5. Insisting on unity – Highly competent people can be a challenge to direct with their ability to be independent thinkers. Their authority figures must have the power to coordinate and shape the team in unity for a common purpose while respecting diversity and individuality. Great leaders insist on unity without uniformity.
6. Setting long and short term goals – Potential leaders should the ability to cast vision and the skills to translate global vision into practical action.
7. Delineate laser sharp focus of priorities – Often there are so many great ideas and initiatives to launch, it is hard to know which one will net the greatest results. Great leaders can define and chart the course or path by aligning resources, actions, and energy to accomplish the desired outcome.
8. Dealing with external forces beyond the market – Anticipating and responding to societal pressures you don’t control but that directly affect your business. A prime example of this is the change in the fast food industry. People today are demanding healthier choices when eating out, and as a result, that external force has required many fast food chains to change their menus. Great leaders anticipate, address, and respond.
There are many behavioral traits that make people shine like a star. When you are looking for future leaders, the most important trait is personal integrity. Without a doubt, intelligence, personality, and the ability to communicate are important. People will follow ability and skill for a while but lasting leadership is built on trust and character. It has been said your ability can never take you where your character can’t keep you.


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Tammy Holyfield is the founder of Holyfield International, a business and personal development company. Holyfield International works with business professionals, entrepreneurs, CEO’s, managers, leaders, and individuals from all walks of life, teaching skills that are proven, practical and get results. She is also a business and personal coach, professional speaker, author, and consultant. For information on organizational solutions or to reach her visit www.holyfieldinternational.com or call 619-431-1345. Follow Tammy on Twitter and Facebook for more insights on business and leadership.


Related message from the author: For tools and resources to help you identify and develop leaders, visit our Holyfield International. We have assessments such as DISC, Motivators, and Emotional Intelligence to help identify leadership potential. We are also available to conduct team building or leadership development workshops with your organization.