ProSpeak

In my 40 years of working in professional organizations, I have seen multiple individual predictive models, reviewed resumés from high GPA candidates who attended well-regarded higher education institutions, and had wonderful conversations with bright, energetic candidates that are well versed in communicating core concepts that allow businesses to succeed. However, it is rare to work with a person that aspires to be “The Man in the Arena” as former President Theodore Roosevelt spoke of. These are the people that I seek to be leaders.

Well spoken, well-educated and well-trained staff can in fact become high-potential leaders in an organization. However, there are steps to identify these individuals — measuring, testing and stretching. 

Measure: An organization should strive to measure each employee, or we lessen our opportunity to begin tracking those team members that contribute at a rate greater than others. 

Test: When you objectively identify those that perform at a greater skill level, test them. Ask them to perform their current role plus. That is, have them be part of a project team or be a champion of an activity inside their work group.

Stretch: Give them a high-profile task that will require them to achieve an outcome which will appear to be far outside their reach. These tasks will require them to learn, lead and execute. Most employees avoid hard things whereas these “special” employees will demonstrate a level of dedication and sacrifice that is able to be observed by many.

What do you do when you have one of these “special” employees?

Your first step should be to understand what the employee wants to achieve in their career. Having an open and honest conversation will assist in visualizing where the individual could be placed inside the organization.

Should you remove these individuals from the high impact role they are in today for a position that promises greater future outcomes for the company? My experience has led me to believe that, when possible, it is always better to err on the side of giving these talented team members the opportunity to become more than to improve the possibility of a positive outcome of today. 

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