What Should You Highlight? Performance Potential versus Performance Results

A curious finding…the best leaders are not necessarily those who were the highest performers.

There is a whole body of literature that describes what it takes to be a great leader. Certainly leaders need to produce results. But there are other attributes of great leaders beyond having the best sales record for example. Great leaders need to create the strategies and organizational cultures required for their teams to perform.  They need to be flexible, work well in high-pressured and fast-paced settings, and operate independently. They are good decision makers, strategic thinkers, and excellent communicators.

But first, how do you identify them?

If you are planning a leadership development initiative for key leaders, your initial step should be a training needs assessment. This is how you determine what critical few leadership competencies are lacking and what behaviors need improvement in your target population for your company’s specific strategy and unique organizational culture. While the above list of leadership traits is certainly a good one, the real value comes in determining what matter most for your specific strategy and culture.  Every situation is unique.  What works in one culture may backfire in another.

Done right, the assessment will also tell you who excels in key leadership areas. These are your high potentials and they represent the organization’s future. They are the ones you must fully engage. Be sure they have attractive development opportunities. You cannot afford to lose them for lack of an exciting career path.