DEVELOPING FUTURE LEADERS CURRENTLY ON YOUR TEAM

1. LOOK FOR POTENTIAL — NOT POLISH
Often your future leader is the person who isn’t particularly impressive in the conference
room… yet. But everybody seems to ‘go to them’ when there’s a problem.
ACTION POINT:
Make a private list of three people on your team with leadership potential.
Not necessarily three people ready for promotion. Three people worth intentionally
developing. And look beyond the obvious candidates.

2. TELL THEM WHAT YOU SEE
Tell someone you see potential in them.
ACTION POINT:
Have one “I see something in you” conversation.

3. STOP GIVING THEM ALL THE ANSWERS
The best response – sometimes – is: “What do YOU think we should do?”
And then… be quiet. This is when you transition from boss… to coach.
ACTION POINT:
Before answering your next “What should I do?” question, ask: “What do YOU think
we should do?”

4. GIVE THEM SOMETHING SLIGHTLY TOO BIG
Experience develops leaders. Give future leaders stretch assignments!
Not reckless assignments. Stretch assignments.
ACTION POINT:
Give one emerging leader a responsibility that is 10–20% beyond what you’re completely
comfortable giving them. Not 100%. Just enough stretch that both of you notice.

5. LET THEM FAIL SMALL
If nobody you’re developing ever fails, you’re probably not developing them aggressively
enough.
ACTION POINT:
Before rescuing someone, ask: “Is this dangerous… or merely uncomfortable?”
If it’s merely uncomfortable, consider letting them work through it.

6. GIVE FEEDBACK WHILE IT’S STILL WARM
Development requires short feedback loops. When something happens… Talk about it.
Today.
ACTION POINT:
Use a simple three-question debrief:
1. What worked?
2. What didn’t?
3. What will you do differently next time?

7. GIVE AWAY SOMETHING YOU LOVE DOING
Our greatest leadership accomplishment may eventually be watching someone else do
something WE used to do… and discovering they can do it better.
ACTION POINT:
Identify one meaningful responsibility you currently own that someone else could begin
learning.
• Don’t dump it on them.
• Teach it.
• Let them observe.
• Let them try.
• Coach them.
• Then gradually… get out of the way.