Research suggests that it’s good for all employees to view themselves as leaders. Even if they aren’t born with certain leadership characteristics or qualities, people can learn. While that may be true, it doesn’t mean everyone will be a good fit for your leadership program.
Here are some things you can do to weed out candidates who will be a bad fit for your leadership program.
Review Attendance Records
As a learning and development professional, it is not your job to babysit trainees. You can’t develop someone who won’t show up. Therefore, reviewing attendance records of employees interested in your program ahead of time is important. Barring a family emergency or maternity leave, leadership candidates should have an impeccable attendance record.
Analyze Job Performance
When reviewing leadership candidates’ job performance, be sure to look at tangible metrics you can evaluate. For instance, if a candidate is expressing interest in becoming a sales manager but consistently has low sales numbers or doesn’t meet minimum sales requirements, he or she may need additional sales training before enrolling in a leadership program to be a sales manager. The leaders who gain the most respect are those who have already demonstrated themselves capable, are able to coach their employees, and who lead by example.
Consult References
One of the best ways to recruit top-notch leaders is to make sure other people like working for and with them. Have candidates provide references, and then contact those references. Ask managers what they like about working with the candidate, as well as their overall job performance and disposition. Ask previous coworkers what the candidate was like to work with and if they would be comfortable working for them in the future.
Pay Attention to What They Say and Don’t Say
Ideal candidates for a leadership program will use “we” and “us” more than “I” when providing examples of projects or tasks they’ve done that they’re proud of in the past. They’ll recognize others who have helped contribute to their successes and will have a more team-oriented approach. They will also exhibit body language that suggests they are confident and not timid or shy, but that also shows they aren’t too arrogant, either.
Give Them a Sample Project or Task to Complete
If you really want to see if candidates are a good fit for your leadership program, give them a challenging sample project to complete and see what they do. Do they actively seek out information they don’t have readily available? Are they able to work with others and inspire action? Do they successfully complete the project or task on time?
Selecting the right candidates for your leadership program is essential. Use the tips above to weed out candidates who may end up being a bad fit for it.