How to Select the Best Emerging Leaders for a High-Potential Talent Program
According to the DDI Global Leadership Forecast, only 11% of companies report having a strong leadership bench, with even fewer focused on emerging talent. That’s not just a red flag; it’s a leadership emergency. While senior executives are often too…
According to the DDI Global Leadership Forecast, only 11% of companies report having a strong leadership bench, with even fewer focused on emerging talent. That’s not just a red flag; it’s a leadership emergency. While senior executives are often too immersed in “business as usual” to step back and reimagine strategies, your emerging leaders have the curiosity, time, and positive, passionate mindset to drive company transformation.
High-potential talent requires as much perspective as performance. These individuals are adaptable, tech-forward, and more attuned to the future of work than many of yesterday’s decision-makers. High-potential talent training programs teach them to manage and lead with emotional intelligence and influence to drive meaningful change without arrogance.
A full 94% of employees say they’d stay longer with a company that invests in their development from the ground up (LinkedIn Learning). Switch On Leadership can help cultivate future leaders, build a loyalty culture, and a competitive edge.
What comes next? Where is your business’s future, and who will be in charge of change?
Look for Change-Positive Mindsets, Not Only High Performance
High performers get things done, but high-potential leaders move things forward. When selecting candidates for your leadership roles, don’t just default to those who’ve mastered their current roles or been with the business longest. Instead, prioritize individuals who embrace change with optimism, confidence, and energy.
These passion-fueled employees lean into uncertainty, view obstacles as opportunities, and adapt quickly when the ground shifts beneath them. A change-positive mindset signals readiness for leadership, especially in today’s fast-evolving business environment. Transformation is the new constant.
Spot the Growth-Focused Leaders Early
Some employees coast on competence, while others treat growth like a personal mission. The latter are the ones to watch. Growth-focused individuals demonstrate leadership readiness before they have the title. They actively seek challenges, reflect on past and present experiences, and pursue continuous improvement—not for recognition, but because it’s how they’re wired.
When selecting high-potential talent, look for these signs:
- They ask for feedback and act on it. They’re not fishing for compliments; they’re serious about improvement.
- They volunteer for stretch assignments. Growth-focused emerging leaders don’t have to be invited into complex work; they raise their hand.
- They pursue development on their own time. Whether it’s certifications, books, or industry events, they invest in themselves and the company.
- They show resilience under pressure. Instead of shutting down or panicking when things go awry, they double down and problem-solve.
- They mentor others. Sharing what they’ve learned is part of how young leaders grow.
- They think about the big picture. These individuals ask strategic questions, not just task-related ones.
Spotting emerging high-potential talent allows you to invest before someone else does, ensuring your leadership pipeline is built on people moving towards long-term, competitive business innovation.
Align Selection with Strategic Business Transformation Goals When Identifying High Potentials
Leadership development should extend past seniority. Emerging leaders should be capable of advancing a company’s long-term vision, so align your selection criteria with current and future transformation goals. Digital innovation, market expansion, and cultural change matter; a high-potential leader should translate to real business value, not just personal development.
Discover how Switch On Leadership helps businesses fuel innovation, transformation, and long-term impact with high-potential talent training programs.
 | High-Potential Talent & Emerging Leaders ProgramsDeveloping high-potential talent is crucial for staying competitive. Our programs equip emerging leaders with skills in innovation, strategy, and digital transformation while solving real business challenges. This creates a win-win-win: talent gains mastery and exposure, companies drive innovation, and markets benefit from more customer-centric products and services. |
