Select Page

Observing Staff Potential

February 4, 2021
Leadership Advisory

The ability to assess talent in others requires personal interest and engagement.

Spotting latent talent in people involves the daily practice of intentional observation.  Leaders often become consumed with meetings, administrative tasks and completing performance reviews at the expense of engaging their people in real development.  It’s tempting to rationalize reasons for not being engaged in people development.  That’s largely because being busy is the easier path; however, it’s the path that yield’s the least in relation to future talent and ensuring that you have the right team down the road.

Leaders are in the people business.  The great ones understand that paying attention to who they have around them is job one.

Take stock of how much quality time you dedicate to thinking deeply about the people around you and how they’re doing.  Next, tell them what you’ve observed.  If they could do better, let them know.  If they’re knocking it out of the park, thank them and encourage them to keep it up.

Leaders Remove Process Barriers

You just boarded the plane with coffee in hand, stashed your bags overhead, and the pilot announces, "we have a minor maintenance item, then we'll be on our way." Now, anyone who depends on the airlines for their daily commute knows that when it comes to aircraft...

Followers or Subordinates…

...the choice is up to you. Getting off on the right foot as a new leader is no easy task.  The assumption many executives and partners make is that the firm has given them a group of willing followers.  Actually, what you've been given is an opportunity to create...

Leaders Do Not Wait On Leadership…

...they lead. The managing partner explained that he had not developed a strategy for his national service line because "leadership" had not yet decided if the service line was strategic to the firm.  I couldn't believe what I had just heard.  Here's the way I see...