There is something much
more important and scarce than ability: It
is the ability to recognize ability. One of the primary responsibilities of
a successful leader is to identify potential leaders. It’s not always an easy
job, but it is critical.
Dale Carnegie was a master
at identifying potential leaders. Once asked by a reporter how he had managed
to hire 43 millionaires, Carnegie responded that the men had not been
millionaires when they started working for him. They had become millionaires as
a result. The reporter next wanted to know how he had developed these men to
become such valuable leaders. Carnegie replied, “Men are developed the same way gold is mined. Several tons of dirt must
be moved to get an ounce of gold. But you don’t go into the mine looking for
dirt,” he added. “You go in looking
for the gold.”
That’s exactly the way to
develop positive, successful people. Look for the gold, not the dirt; the good,
not the bad. The more positive qualities you look for, the more you are going
to find.
[Taken from Developing the Leaders Around You: How to
Help Others Reach Their Full Potential (2005) by John C. Maxwell. Published
by Nelson Business.]
Have you made it a priority to find potential leaders
and develop them?
THINK BIG.
START SMALL. GO DEEP.
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