A Short, Powerful List of Investing in the Right People
When I started my company, Leadership Quest, twenty years ago, I was so excited about making a difference in people’s lives that I was not very discriminating about whom to invest in. I’d work and partner with just about anyone.
I realized different people give different ROI (return on investment) and I began to change the way I approached leadership development. Simply put, I began defining what a potential leader looked like. I committed to investing in leaders and I began by building a list of what a leader looks like. I like to call this the “DNA of leadership.”
Here are the list of questions I built (and used) at this turning place in my career:
1. Do they positively influence others?
2. Do they desire personal development?
3. Do they have the potential for greater influence?
4. Do they have good people skills?
5. Are they self motivated?
6. Are they stable and mature?
7. Do they live their stated values?
8. Do they have strong personal drive?
9. Are they self-aware of their strengths and weaknesses?
10. Do they cooperate and work well with others?
11. Are they open to feedback and willing to adjust?
12. Do they have the three C’s — Character, Competency, and do we have Chemistry?
What is on your list?
Think about who you invest in. Take some time to review my list of questions and come up with your own. I learned the more time spent with potential leaders or those already leading is not time spent, it’s time investment. The rewards don’t just add up, they multiply!
The greatest legacy any leader can leave is the other leaders he or she raises up.
As always, we at Leadership Quest have one primary goal and that is to empower leaders at every level of your organization ~ please feel free to forward this post to peers, colleagues, and
team members you think would appreciate!
Here’s to investing in the right people!
— Steve
As a master storyteller, Steve has unparalleled ability to communicate dynamic business and leadership truths through stories, anecdotes and humor. Harness the power of the “number one” predictor of professional success, impact, leadership, high performance and sustainable relationships in business and life. Steve’s highest rated keynote presentation.
To book Steve today, contact Michelle Joyce!
(For information on keynote presentations, team workshops, and one on one coaching.)
“The purpose of Leadership Quest is to help professionals develop their personal leadership, vision and emotional intelligence. Everyday I strive to help leaders and teams achieve their desired goals in sales productivity, leadership, time maximization, and life-balance. ”
About the Author
Steve Gutzler is the President of Leadership Quest, a Seattle-based leadership development company. Steve is a dynamic, highly-sought-after speaker who has delivered more than 2,500 presentations to a list of clients including Microsoft, Starbucks, the Seattle Seahawks, Pandora Radio, Boeing, Cisco, Starwood Corporation, the Ritz Carlton group, and the U.S. Social Security Administration. He recently was voted #1 by the readership of Huffington Post as the Most Inspirational Leader on Social Media.
A published author on leadership and emotional intelligence, Steve resides near Seattle with his wife Julie where they enjoy time with their three adult children and six grandchildren.
