Leadership
development has become a necessary focus for any organization that wishes to
separate itself from the pack and become established in markets that are always
changing the rules.

Creating an
intentional strategy for developing employees is one of the most important
things you can do as a leader to impact the culture of your organization. This
is especially true for those you would categorize as future leaders.

If you want to
be intentional about developing future leaders in your organization, here are a
few keys to consider:

1. Encourage
Self-Awareness and Reflection

Helping your
employees discover their own strengths and weaknesses encourages
self-awareness. A self-aware employee has a better grasp on which areas they
wish to improve. By providing constructive feedback and encouraging reflection,
you can coach a good employee into becoming an outstanding member of your team.

2. Promote
Potential Leaders to Take on Challenges

The best
employees are filled with potential, but many companies make the mistake of
leaving that potential untapped. Don’t let this happen in your
organization. Studies show that most employees enjoy using
their talents and abilities. In fact, challenging your workers to stretch their
knowledge and providing opportunities for them to showcase what they can do is
an ideal way to boost morale.

3. Build
Strong Relationships

Strong work
relationships are mutually beneficial to both management and employees because
they make work a pleasant place to be. To build rapport with your team, you
must be trustworthy and reliable – and open to suggestions for change.
Transparency also helps build strong connections. An open-door policy is
preferable to a more traditional tiered hierarchy. In this way, any employee
who has a problem can talk to you without following a set chain of command.

4. Use Job
Rotation to Broaden Experience

Give your
workers a chance to broaden their expertise by working in different parts of
the company. This will allow you and them to discover both their strengths and
the areas where they need additional training. It will also give them an
appreciation of other roles that will be beneficial in managing others in those
areas.

5. Create
Coaching and Mentoring Opportunities

One of the best
ways to develop future leaders is by having them learn directly from other
successful leaders. Once you’ve identified candidates that could potentially be
great leaders, match them up with a great leader to mentor them, coach them,
and consistently provide feedback. A mentor can provide customized guidance
that helps prepare junior employees to become more effective leaders in the
future. Building these strong relationships early creates opportunities for
open, honest lines of communication throughout the leadership development
process.

These are just
a few of the ways organizations can develop leadership potential in the
workplace. By keeping communication open, incorporating leadership into regular
professional development, and giving emerging leaders opportunities to grow,
organizations can begin to build their leadership pipelines from within.