“How do you identify emerging managers in your organization? As you look around your team, what do you observe, what catches your eye?” I asked everyone to take a minute and write their ideas on a 3×5 card.
Wendy spoke first, “I watch for them in meetings. I look to see, when they speak, do other people listen? It’s funny; I am not listening for something brilliant to come out of their mouth. I observe others’ response to them. For a person to be a leader, someone has to follow.”
Marion was next, “I look for someone who asks questions. It’s easy for a person to just spout off how much they know about this or that. But if someone is asking questions about purpose, why we do things, what is the impact of a process? Not dumb questions, good questions.”
Jeremy raised his hand, “I look for someone who is thinking ahead. We may be working on something right now, but this person is two or three steps ahead, laying out material, staging equipment for the next setup, even if the next setup is tomorrow.”
I am curious. How do you identify emerging managers in your organization? As you look around your team, what do you observe, what catches your eye? Post a comment here. I have a special book on my desk for the best comment.
If you would like to view comments that have already been posted, just click on one of the links at the top of this email. It will take you to the website where you can read them. -TF
I look for people that others go to for advice, or try to collaborate with. Its not what the emergin manager says, its how often someone else is quoting that person, as if having him involved automatically brings credibility to the answer…
This person has already become a coach and mentor.
I look for someone who consistently suggests how to improve processes, systems etc. This person is ususally going against the tide.
Many individuals seeking recognition speak without purpose. Or reword previous safe discussions. I see a leader as a pioneer that thinks in the future. How will what we do impact future possibilities as well as cause challenging dilemmas? Leaders have a way of getting buyin from others and gaining acceptance of their ideas and suggestions without having to use a hard sell approach. Their insight becomes contagious.
I think a good manager is a person who can identily a problem and then construct and implement a plan to resolve the problem.