All hiring managers are looking for candidates who can do the job today.  But the best hiring managers – and the best companies – know that to improve retention, productivity, and company culture, they need candidates who will turn into the company’s next great leaders.  Here are five signs that the candidate you’re interviewing today has leadership potential:

1. They love to learn. Leaders in any industry must constantly be learning about the industry, their competitors, and their opportunities. A candidate who already loves learning things that fall outside her current job – but are still related to the “big-picture” work – is one who is likely to do well in a leadership position that requires “big-picture” thinking and a willingness to integrate new information and ideas.
2. Their teammates ask them to help resolve conflicts. Identify potential leaders by following their peers. Candidates whose teammates ask them to resolve conflicts or take the lead on projects are getting a vote of confidence from those who work beside them day to day and know them well.  Ask questions like “When have your co-workers asked you to resolve a conflict or take the lead on something?”
3. They’re already volunteering to lead. Candidates whose volunteer or charity work involves leadership roles, or who have offered to head up a work project in the past, are not only exercising their leadership skills. They’re also demonstrating that they want to get better at leadership.  Ask about their volunteer work or whether they’ve offered to lead a work project to gauge both their understanding of leadership and their enthusiasm for it.
4. They offer suggestions for improvement. Leaders need to be proactive in watching for and suggesting ways for the company or department to improve. Look for leadership potential in candidates by asking questions like “When have you suggested an improvement at work?  How did it turn out?” or “If you could make one suggestion that would improve our work here, what would you recommend?”
5. They’re enthusiastic. A leader sets the tone for the rest of the team. If the leader is enthusiastic, the team will be as well.  When choosing candidates with leadership potential, look for the ones that seem most excited about both the job they’re applying for and the opportunities for advancement that accompany it.

At SMR Group Ltd, our recruiters connect employers in the biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries with the best sales and marketing talent available.  Contact us today to learn more about our specialized recruiting services.