Leaders can come from a range of different backgrounds and often have different leadership styles and approaches. However, if we take a deeper look into the building blocks, it is clear there are some key characteristics that most successful leaders have in common. Recruiting the right leader is vital for any successful business and at Agenda Executive Search we work alongside you to find the right fit for your organisation. During our recruitment process, we will identify the key components required for your future leaders, here are just five characteristics we look out for:
Empathy:
Put simply, being empathetic means leaders can understand the needs of their team and have an awareness of their feelings. According to Businessolver, 87% of CEOs believe that an empathetic working environment improves an organisation’s financial performance, so let’s uncover why this is so important.
Empathy allows leaders to create genuine connections and creates more openness with their team. This will bring several benefits to your business, most importantly it will ensure effective communication and allow employees to be more open and honest. It also improves performance as the leader has a better awareness of employees’ needs and how to maximize their output, whilst being able to reduce the risk of problems when they arise.
With the rise of mental health illnesses related to the workplace, it is also important for leaders to show support and understanding. According to the Bupa Executive Wellbeing Index[1] empathy is rated as one of the most important leadership traits for a CEO (41%). With the focus on employee wellbeing, it is clear that having an empathetic leader can have a positive influence on employee retention, productivity and overall business performance.
Effective Communication:
Effective communication is a vital component of successful businesses and so finding leaders who are good communicators is certainly something we factor into our searches.
Being able to effectively communicate with employees enables leaders to not only inspire and motivate their team, but also clearly define instruction, goals and provide critique in a constructive and productive manner. Of course, communication is not one-sided, having a leader who is a good listener helps to build trust with employees and creates an open forum for idea generation and feedback. This further demonstrates how important this characteristic is for the future success and growth of your business.
Ability to delegate:
Leaders are often not the best-placed individuals to complete all the tasks within the business due to the various skills and flexibility required. So, the ability to delegate is important for leaders to master, as it doesn’t just mean tasks are being completed in a timely manner but also ensures they are done by the best person for the job.
If your new leader can delegate well, it will certainly foster employee growth. Employees that have been delegated the tasks will have more autonomy and it allows them to develop their skills and experience which is important for their own job satisfaction. It goes without saying, that some job roles are extremely skills-focused, so it is fundamental that leaders source employees who can take full ownership of their area, providing the best results.
Ultimately, if your business leader can delegate effectively, it will mean they have more time to focus on the overall team development and business performance.
Motivator:
The best leaders can inspire and motivate their teams to achieve what is necessary for success, regardless of the conditions and barriers that they may need to overcome. A motivated workforce will bring several benefits to your business so finding a leader who is a powerful motivator is very important.
Individuals have different motivations, so a leader who can understand these and cultivate an environment where everyone is working towards a common goal will have a more successful business model.
Integrity:
In any business, you need people you can trust and rely on to do the right thing, and for leaders, this is absolutely vital.
A leader with strong integrity will be able to build trust with their team, clients and shareholders. It is also important to highlight that good leaders will take responsibility for their own and their team’s actions, including when mistakes are made.
Leaders often must make hard decisions, and this can be one of their toughest challenges. Being able to do the right thing, even if it is difficult, can be what sets good leaders apart!
There are many other characteristics we look for and our team will work with you to tailor your search criteria, enabling us to find the perfect fit. Allow us to find your next game-changing hire by getting in contact with the team today.
[1] https://www.bupaglobal.com/en/your-wellbeing/our-research/wellbeing-index-2021