“Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence,” the brilliant scientist Carl Sagan once said. And while Sagan wasn’t referring to the recruiting process, the means for analyzing a candidate is similar — especially when you’re looking for specific leadership traits.
If a candidate cannot provide evidence of what he or she has created, changed or initiated, there is hardly a chance that that person will possess dynamic growth potential.
As Vasilios Alexious, co-founder of FirmPay, told me: “There’s one thing that stands head and shoulders above the rest: whether a candidate has tangible evidence of having successfully done the work they’ll be doing in our company.”
Of course this evidence can present itself in a number of ways — some of them less obvious. Here are three proven identifiers of growth potential to look for during your recruiting process:
1. Focus on presentation and command.
Among the key leadership attributes recruiters should learn to recognize are grit, curiosity and presence.
Grit is a character trait that produces tremendous outcomes. Most often, this qualifier cannot be taught but is a natural instinct that must be honed in on and refined. “I define [grit] as the ability to stick with the project even when things are hard and may look bleak, at first,” Jeanne C. Mesiter, co-founder of Future Workplace, recently shared with me.
Curiosity, the second attribute, is also a game changer when it comes to identifying growth potential. A good indicator is that a candidate asks intelligent questions about the position and company. “[Curiosity] is always asking why and not being satisfied with the answer, looking for more content, clarity and more detail,” said Mesiter.
Presentation, the third attribute, means making a great first impression. Mesiter explained. “I define [presence] as being able to walk into strange settings and have a command of yourself and what you believe in,” she said.
So, focus on how a candidate exudes “command” during an interview. Does he or she express ideas and beliefs with a fearless sense of passion?
In addition, know that a candidate with optimal growth potential won’t dwell on simple concepts like bragging…