Good leaders know to look for the smartest and quickest way to reach a goal. Great leaders know that having a team of like-minded leaders compounds and expedites the results.

Here’s the point that many leaders miss: leadership doesn’t just apply to the C-suite or management levels of an organization. Leaders can and should be found in every level of the company.

But how do you identify potential leaders?

Here are four key characteristics to look for in your next hires.

Motivation

One of the biggest questions we are asked in strengths training is, “How do I motivate my employees?”

There are certainly ways you can increase motivation within your employees – by putting them in positions and environments that are in alignment with their individual strengths, for example. But there must be some level of self-motivation in each hire you make on which to build. Increasing motivation is easier if you start with a self-motivated individual.

Innovation

One common mistake leaders make is to hire the proverbial “yes people” – those who will just do as they are told. While this may seem easy from a leadership perspective, the problem is, you as a leader will always have to be there to tell them what to do. If you hire and train people to just do what you say, they will do just that. They will clock in and do their jobs. Your organization will eventually lose its cutting edge to a company that appreciates innovative contributions.

Dedication

Loyalty is one of the greatest attributes. Do you have a team that is loyal enough to you to “have your back?” How do you form such a team? You do it by having theirs. When one of your team members makes a mistake, do you work with them to correct it – or do you throw them under the bus?

Representation

When hiring for any position, ask yourself if the candidate would be a good representation of the culture of the organization. Do they share similar values? Are they dedicated to the mission? Could they lead in their area in a way that is cohesive to the whole of the organization?

As the CEO of Strength Leader Development, Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after international executive mentor, coach, trainer and speaker. Deb is well versed in global business operations and helps business leaders and their teams to discover and leverage their strengths, so they can create highly collaborative teams that deliver great results. With a refreshingly direct style, Deb helps leaders and their teams to deliver profitable results. Connect with Deb to learn more about her mentorship and coaching programs to equip you with advanced strategies to elevate your results.