For years, there has been a steady stream of articles and books that describe the characteristics of great leaders, most often focusing on specific traits like diligence, vision, communication skills and the ability to inspire and motivate. Oddly, one other trait is rarely mentioned, yet is perhaps the most important leadership skill of all—the ability to identify and groom other highly talented leaders.
Successful businesses rarely thrive solely due to the efforts of one individual. While one person can have a significant impact on how well a business does in the short term, organizations that perform well over the long term (decades, generations or longer) succeed because they are led by people with the foresight to recognize, develop and promote members of a very small percentage of the population who can actually lead. For these businesses, strong, empowered, multilayered leadership is a core, differentiating factor. It is a fundamental reason why certain businesses consistently outperform their competition, regardless of the business cycle, industry dynamics or competitor moves.
