11 Practices Of Highly Successful Leaders You Want To Hire In 2015

There are a number of churches, business, non-profits and athletic teams reading this post who will be looking to hire great leaders in 2015.  Do you have a decision-grid in which to make your selection or is this process intuitive?  Chemistry matters, right?

Well, chemistry is important but there also has to be a well thought-out framework for evaluation.  This framework should identify the credentials needed in selecting your leader.  In his incredible new book The Game Plan: The Art Of Building A Winning Football Team, legendary general manager Bill Polian shares the decision process he created in 1994 while hiring the expansion Carolina Panthers first head coach and Tony Dungy for the Indianapolis Colts.  These thoughts will help you make equally effective decisions when hiring leaders in 2015.

The following are 11 Practices Of Highly Successful Leaders You Want To Hire In 2015:

1. Organization – Polian states this “ranges from how he organizes his playbook to practice plans, from year-round staff assignments to his off-season program.”  In other words, how he conducts business on a day-to-day basis.  In addition, as a leader you must be able to explain the details of your organization to those you report to while demonstrating a clear understanding of your plan.
2. Leadership – Polian’s definition of leadership is “the philosophical approach, verbal skills, physical presence, stability and courage to lead and motivate the coaching staff, players, and support staff.”
3. Communication – This includes verbal, written and listening skills.  Can you sell your program, department or area of ministry to key stakeholders?   Are you approachable?  Is your communication two-way or one-way?
4. Emotional Stability – The only difference between anger and danger is a “d”.  Can you handle pressure?  Are you composed and have a plan when things go wrong or do you make knee-jerk reactions?  Do you have the ability to keep people focused during times of crisis?
5. Vision – Polian feels this is the most important quality when looking for a leader.  Do you have a clear picture of where you want to take your organization?  Can you communicate this in a way that causes others to follow?  What is interesting is what Polian adds, “Can he (the coach) make long-term decisions in order to implement his vision when pressure is great for him to make a short-term, quick-fix decision?”  In other words, how committed are you as the leader to your own vision?
6. Strategy – Are you mentally prepared or reactionary?  Do people feel you are an effective decision-maker?  You must also be able to explain your decisions in a coherent fashion to the press and those you report to.
7. Flexibility – Blessed are the flexible for they will never be bent out of shape.  The speed of change in our world is constantly accelerating.  Can you adjust to current trends, rule changes, legal changes and the changing personalities and the cultural differences we see in our society?  Great leaders also understand changing tactics can be done without changing your core values and fundamentals.
8. Ability To Judge Talent – My former boss John Maxwell used to always say, “There’s gold in them there pews.”  What John was saying is great leaders always see potential in their people.  They are your only appreciable asset as a church, business, non-profit or athletic team.  Your opinion of your team will greatly determine the level of your team’s success.  One of Dungy’s greatest qualities was “he knows his system and understands the relative value of personnel within that system.”
9. Public Relations – A leadership position has public responsibilities.  First, are you a continual learner?  You are constantly answering questions in public forums from parishioners, stockholders, the media and others.  This is a skill which continually needs improving.  Dealing with the public is a leadership obligation.  Can you also make converts of those you are speaking to?
10. Respect From Others – Will those you lead look up to you?  Discipline and coaching are key areas where leaders gain or lose respect.  Is your approach fair?  Can you raise people up without burning bridges?
11. Character – The greatest leadership tragedy is when a person’s talent takes them to a place where their character cannot sustain them.  What a waste!  When hiring a leader, your final questions should always be do you want this man or woman representing your organization?

I recommend The Game Plan: The Art Of Building A Winning Football Team for all leaders, sports fans or otherwise.  Along with Creativity, Inc., it one of the top two best leadership books I have read in the past year .

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