While talented candidates are an asset to an organization, talent may not necessarily translate into leadership ability. Being on the lookout for future leaders is essential in achieving your organization’s long-term objectives. Knowing how to spot a potential superstar leader ensures that you can mentor them to further develop their leadership skills. Focus on these traits to determine if a talented candidate could also be a leader: 

Motivation 

Look at a candidate’s ability to self-motivate to perform and reach their goals to gauge their leadership potential. Workers who must be motivated by external forces generally aren’t leader material. If they don’t excel at motivating themselves, it’s unlikely they could inspire others. 

Strategic Thinking 

Leaders require long-term vision in order to successfully help run and grow an organization. Be on the lookout for candidates who are able to think beyond their daily tasks and look to how they can make a difference to the big picture. Strategic-minded workers will likely have demonstrated results in developing new initiatives that positively affect company performance.  

Perseverance 

How a person recovers from a mistake is often a key indicator in his or her ability to be a leader. There is inherent risk whenever one is making changes or other decisions because they can have widespread effects on the company. Candidates who can bounce back from failures and use the experiences to learn have the potential to be superstars, unlike those who give up or are so afraid of making mistakes that they don’t take chances. 

Passion 

A talented candidate could be the most skilled worker with the best results, but still may not be leader material if he or she lacks passion about the company and its mission. A passionate candidate without the most extensive experience may be a better long-term investment than someone with a more impressive background – skills can be taught, but attitude cannot.

Hiring for potential leaders requires a more targeted strategy than if you are simply filling open positions. Find the candidates that best fit your company’s long-term strategic goals by working with PrideStaff San Jose. We’re a San Jose-based staffing firm that matches clients with qualified and motivated candidates for both temporary and direct hire. Contact PrideStaff San Jose today to find out more about how we can help you with your staffing needs.