5 Ways to Develop Young Talent into Future Leaders
You're probably asking yourself, especially with more and more young people entering the workforce: "How do I develop them into future leaders?" As an established leader yourself, you have a lot of valuable experience to share with young entrepreneurs, but you don't know where to start.
A successful, forward-thinking business leader knows the value that the younger generation can bring, especially if their skills and talents are properly cultivated. Here are some of the ways that you can invest in the future of business by nurturing young people in your company.
We already written about the value in investing in future leaders. Now is the time to start acting on developing these young leaders for the betterment of the organization.
1. Foster their confidence
A great way to show that you have faith in an employee’s abilities is by giving them room to take charge of their own work. If they always have to be checking in with their superior to find out what they need to work on next, chances are they won’t feel like they have ownership over their job, and won’t take as much pride in what they do. When you give an employee the space to address things in their way, you’ll also be able to better assess their skills and see which areas need further development.
We've written about building a young professionals confidence before. Learn more about the steps a young professional to take so they thrive in their career.
2. Success in leadership is a combination of confidence and performance
Sometimes a new employee can wow you with their self-assurance, but when it comes to getting results, they might fall short. Likewise, potentially great future leaders may need your help in learning to present themselves. Pay attention to their results as well as overall attitude to determine whether they are all bravado or just need help in certain areas. It’s a good idea to ask others on their team for feedback too, to get a sense of whether coworkers see them as being suited for a leadership role.
3. Offer mentorship opportunities
Make sure that you’re providing ample training and professional development opportunities so that young employees can feel empowered to take on more responsibility within their job. People do better work when they feel adequately prepared with the knowledge and skills required to use their own judgment rather than always relying on their superiors.
4. Give them space to share their ideas
If you’ve been in business for a long time, sometimes company practices can get set in their ways and be resistant to change. Don’t underestimate the value of fresh eyes coming to you from a younger generation. In order to appeal to younger audiences, it can be helpful to have that insider information that a young person has about their peers. They might just have some unexpected ideas that move your business forward in a positive direction.
5. Don’t discount their authority due to age
When a young person is given the opportunity to take on a leadership role, they may be younger than those they’re in charge of. Make sure that they know that this age difference doesn’t affect the dynamic, and show your confidence in their potential by reinforcing their authority in the eyes of coworkers.
Looking for your next leader?
If you're looking to start developing emerging leaders, it means finding the right candidate to fill a specialist or lower-management role. Start with a plan for the person you want to hire, even before meeting with them. We've outlined the 3 Ways To Plan For Success by Investing In Future Leaders, which can help you understand what to look for before you even start, and then what investing entails.
Creative Niche offers experience and candor in what you need to start doing to hire future leaders. If you're looking to start the process, be sure to read about our process in hiring a full-time employee, and when you're ready give us a shout!
