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Your company leaders can make or break the business. Therefore, you put a lot of thought into filling these positions.

When possible, you prefer to promote from within, so you want to identify employees with leadership potential well before you actually need them to step up. Some people are natural leaders, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need plenty of guidance before they’re able to be successful in a high-profile position.

Here are a few traits to look for in your employees to determine who could thrive as a leader.

Five Signs of Leadership Potential Accountable

Leaders don’t pass the blame on others. When they make a mistake, they own it. This is crucial because employees don’t trust — or like — leaders who refuse to accept fault for their actions. If an employee has trouble taking credit for anything but wins, they’re not leadership potential.

Comfortable With Failure

For your company to grow and remain relevant, you need forward-thinking leaders who aren’t afraid to try new things. Of course, all — or maybe even most — of these ideas won’t succeed, so it’s important for leaders to have no problem with failure.

As long as they try their best, they must take this attitude toward their own work and that of their team members. This will motivate everyone to focus on innovation because they won’t have to worry about any negative consequences associated with failing.

Highly Engaged

You can’t have a leader who is checked out, so look for employees who are truly interested in both their jobs and the company as a whole. These people constantly ask questions, contribute to staff meetings, and are always willing to pitch in and help their peers out for the greater good.

Humble

No doubt, potential leaders are employees who constantly impress you. However, no matter what they accomplish and how much praise they receive, they always take it in stride. This is important because leaders with big egos don’t work. You need leaders who are focused on the success of the team as a whole, not their own personal victories.

Likable

Leaders can’t just put their heads down and work. They’re responsible for engaging and inspiring their team, and this won’t happen if employees don’t like them. Anyone with a less-than-personable attitude won’t succeed as a leader because — figuratively speaking — no one will want to follow them.

Searching for new hires with leadership potential? Wood Staffing wants to help. Contact us today to find out what we can offer your Michiana company!