When looking for a leader, some of the questions you must ask is if you can build your department or organization around this person? Do they have the temperament to navigate crises? Do they have the intelligence to solve problems? Do they have emotional intelligence and people skills to attract and retain others? Can they build a team? Can they develop leaders?
If your department or organization is currently asking these questions, you are not alone.
In this article , The Athletic’s Zach Harper and Shams Charania asked many of the same questions about four young NBA players in an essay entitled “Are these really franchise guys of the future?”
As I read their comments, I gleaned the following four signs of a leader you can build a department or organization around:
4 Signs Of A Leader You Can Build A Department Or Organization Around
1. They Are Dependable
The three most important qualities a leader must have are availability, dependability, and reliability. You must be able to count on them to be there for you. If you can’t count on them, they can’t be in leadership.
It was written about Charlotte Hornets LaMelo Ball, “he’s been pretty unhealthy with his ankle the last two seasons.”
2. They Are Continually Learning And Improving
It was said of the Toronto Raptors Scotty Barnes, “He needs to be a better shooter and learn to lead, but I definitely believe in him as a franchise guy when the Raptors aren’t outright tanking.”
A leader you can build around is someone who is continually improving their skills and learning new ones.
3. They Have A Strong Inner-Circle In Place
John Maxwell’s Law of the Inner-Circle teaches that the success of a leader is determined by those closest to them. If he did not know it already, the Detroit Pistons Cade Cunningham is learning this principle. It was written of the former first pick of the Draft, “To be fair, he needs actual help and competence around him before we can judge if he’s the real deal.”
4. They Have A Proven Track Record Of Success
If you are going to build a department or organization around someone, they must have a proven track record of success. This is something the Portland Trailblazers are figuring out about Scoot Henderson. The highly-touted prospect had a difficult rookie season. Harper and Charania wrote, “He was not very good in his rookie season. He averaged 14 points, 5.4 assists and 3.4 turnovers, and he had an ugly 48.9 true shooting percentage.”
Conclusion
If you are looking for a leader to build your department or organization around, look for someone who is dependable, continually learning and improving, has a strong inner-circle, a proven track record of success.
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