In conversations with Gulf Coast business owner friends recently, it seems hiring has been a struggle bus (can you relate?).
There are qualified applicants showing up in their resume stacks. But, what’s more difficult to look for in that pile is the right combo of qualified and quality to fill out the position. For a lot of them, no one’s really standing out from the pack.
Hiring ain’t easy. Picking someone right for your team and right for your business takes some serious investigative effort. And interviews, while revealing, aren’t always revealing enough if you aren’t asking the right questions. You often don’t know what someone’s really like until they’re put into action.
Which means, you need to know what to look for character-wise. And maybe that mix of chemistry and character is already in your business that you could promote.
More on that in a moment.
Though I primarily operate in an advisory capacity with businesses, sending out little reminders about important financial due dates is something I’ll still do for my clients. Like this one: June 17 is the deadline for your next estimated tax payment. You can make payments online using your bank account or debit/credit card or by using the EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System).
You don’t have to be a tax person to know that making these payments along the way ensures you aren’t underpaying or winding up with penalties later on. And nobody needs penalties siphoning their cash flow to the government. So, make sure you get that taken care of.
Now, back to finding and hanging on to good employees. It’s a problem for most business owners I talk to these days. It easily makes the top three list of biggest issues facing businesses right now.
If you’ve done your due diligence in the hiring process, often it comes down to knowing how to identify those qualities that you want to keep.
If only there were some kind of employee leadership qualities list that you could use to help you be able to spot the treasures within your own walls…
A Leadership Qualities List So To Help You Build Your Gulf Coast Company Team
“The very best leader is someone who has enough sense to pick good men to do what he wants done, and the self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Leadership in business does not just happen at the executive level. There are leaders on the assembly lines, leaders in company culture, and leaders setting the tone for other employees.
So let’s look at a leadership qualities list for you as a business owner to have in mind when you’re deciding when to give a raise, which employees to fight for, and what promotions to offer.
Great employees aren’t always the loudest or the ones with the most experience. Sometimes, the best ones surprise you.
So here’s my top ten list of leadership qualities to look for in your team.
1. They don’t shy away from challenges.
Roadblocks are part of the work day, and these folks aren’t afraid to get involved in the workaround. Instead of waiting for others to respond, they act.
2. They listen.
To their supervisors, to their coworkers, to feedback (positive and negative). They can hear what you’re saying, not just waiting for their turn to talk. They ask clarifying questions and focus on understanding your perspective.
3. They’re thinking about results.
Activities are different from results. If they care about the result of their activities, that signals care for the company and care about their role in it.
4. They help others.
And not just when asked. They think strategically about what needs to be done, and then they do it.
5. They love to learn.
They’re curious, seek out new knowledge, and are open to learning new skills. If they’re doing this at work, that’s a great sign. If they’re doing this outside of work, pay attention.
6. They apologize.
Everyone messes up, you know? Mature employees can own their mistakes, apologize, and try again — and do things better next time. Avoid the blame-shifters.
7. They ask for help.
When appropriate and not excessively. You as a manager or business owner understand the boundary between asking good questions and being afraid to do it wrong or go it alone.
8. They carry themselves with dignity.
This is not just about dressing the part. Also note their willingness to say no, avoid gossip, or engage with the CEO in an elevator. Oh, and confidence doesn’t have to be loud.
9. They give dignity to others.
This goes without saying. They treat everyone with respect, regardless of title or position. Especially those below them on the org chart.
10. They have ideas.
If they have ideas about how to improve production efficiency, how to cut costs, how to help a coworker overcome challenges, or how to do their own job better — listen. And reward them for demonstrating care and creativity.
Hopefully, as you’ve been reading this list of leadership qualities you’ve been identifying some potential leaders on your team. So, how can you empower these folks to keep doing what they’re doing?
For your rockstar team,
James Thomasson
