3 Traits to Look for in Your Next Leader

Much is at stake when a company needs to hire a new leader. Here are three traits to look for that could help you make the right choice for your business.

1. Great Leaders Empower Employees

Even under difficult circumstances, great leaders are able to help employees feel empowered in their day-to-day work. Empowered employees are confident, willing to offer feedback and trust their leaders to make decisions that are in the best interest of the company.

When employees feel valued and trusted, they are more likely to not only bring their best selves to work every day, but they also tend to remain loyal, which helps decrease employee turnover.

Leaders who treat employees well and ask for their input actively support the health and growth of a business.

2. High-Quality Leaders Think Strategically

We all know someone who always seems to be two steps ahead of the pack. This type of forward-thinking leader can not only see the big picture, but they can also act accordingly. An integrator knows exactly how to apply the best strategies at the best possible time.

They also aren't afraid to fail. High-quality leaders may see failure as evidence of great effort. In a best-case scenario, when a seemingly good idea backfires, leadership can pick up the pieces, learn the most important lessons and try again with a better chance of success.

3. Excellent Leaders Work to Build Customer Relationships

Your company's current and future customers count on your leaders to provide the high-quality products and services they count on. Great leaders are able to build customer relationships to increase trust.

One of the least expensive and most efficient ways to build a company is to grow relationships with current customers. Staying in contact with large accounts and evaluating medium-sized and smaller accounts to identify opportunities for growth are some of the essential actions that leaders must embrace.

Great leaders trust their teams, are talented managers, don't fear failure, and have the natural ability to think ahead. Finding these powerful people and learning whether they may be a good fit for your company is a critical part of building a winning team. Plus, the more qualified your leaders are, the better mentors they can be for your employees. Keep that in mind.