Recognize Potential

We recently started a six-month leadership training program with a new client. The participants are accepted into the program only after they have been nominated by someone at or above their position in the company, and they have successfully passed the program’s interview process.

This organization takes their leadership development program very seriously. They have invested a lot of time, effort, money, and other resources into it. The program and its participants are closely monitored not only by their managers, but also by the senior and executive management teams. It truly is impressive how dedicated the management team is to providing solid training and development opportunities to staff members who have shown leadership potential.

The interesting part of this process has been that several participants have indicated they were surprised they were nominated, but they are grateful to whoever nominated them. That’s nice. I believe it is a rather odd approach to nurturing talent and I haven’t been able to get a clear explanation as to why this anonymous nomination process was developed in the first place. I believe this organization may have even more employees with hidden talent and promise who are waiting to be discovered. But, because no one has told the employees directly that they have potential, the employees don’t realize it or nurture it.

I’m a firm believer in the old saying: Catch people doing things right. When you acknowledge positive performance and behaviors right away, you help the employee understand what Good or Excellent means and how it feels when they achieve gold-star results. You help them uncover unrealized talents and you help them recognize their own potential.

So if you have employees who have demonstrated leadership or other skills, tell them. Don’t assume they know. Recognize them, their talents and their potential. You may just uncover your organization’s next leader.

Liz supports clients with strategic and succession planning, as well as leadership training and executive coaching.

Liz Weber CMC CSP

Liz Weber coaches, consults, and trains leadership teams. She specializes in strategic and succession planning, and leadership development.

Liz is one of fewer than 100 people in the U.S. to hold both the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) and Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designations.

Contact Liz’s office at +1.717.597.8890 for more info on how Liz can help you, or click here to have Liz’s office contact you.

← To Successfully Implement the Plan - Change Behaviors Succession Planning: Determine What You Need →