Within the High Growth blog, there are many articles on how you can develop leadership qualities both within yourself and your organisation. Established leaders also have a duty to help develop leadership qualities in the more junior members of their team. This, more than anything, is a sign of excellent leadership. As John Adams once noted, “If your actions inspire others to learn more, dream more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” Here are some ideas on how to inspire a new generation of future leaders:
1. Impress upon the younger members of your team the importance of constantly learning.
Perhaps the most important key to future success is developing a desire to constantly learn new things. If you are managing young people, give them tasks that require learning and applying new skills. Encourage them also to learn outside of work for their enjoyment and personal development.
2. Put them in situations in which they have to make serious decisions.
Good decision-making skills are another important element of leadership. You can talk all day about the qualities inherent in strong leaders, but it’s important to put young people to the test so they can actually begin practicing leadership skills. For the younger members of your team, put them in situations in which they make serious business decisions. Coach them through the process of decision-making, and show them how each decision requires give-and-take.
3. Emphasise loyalty over personal gain.
We often talk about ethics in leadership, but we all too often only pay it lip service. Talk to your young future leaders about the importance of loyalty and service. Financial greed never pays off, doing the right thing does.
4. Be the best example you can be.
Being a good example is the most effective way to mentor young professionals. That means always being aware that you are being observed by young people who look up to you. Never take shortcuts, own up to your mistakes and be the person you want others to see you as.
Inspiring leadership in younger people is by no means easy. However, as a leader, you must develop a vision for long-term sustainability of your business and society as a whole. This can only be done by investing in young people. Soon enough, they’ll be running the world.
