As a lifer HR professional, I recently learned some things from a client that added to my ability to assess soft skills. Leadership certainly involves the willingness and ability to take charge of any role. In this article, I describe how to assess the three traits I call self-starter-ness traits.
First, how well does this person rank on autonomy. Autonomy or independence starts with a willingness to think and do without a lot of hand-holding. In fact, autonomous actors prefer some general guidelines, but then prefer to be left alone to figure out the rest. How strong-minded is this person to act responsibility on their own? In sales and in most leadership roles, independent thinking a key piece critical to the success in the role. On a scale of 1-5, when I get a 5 for autonomy, I know this person handles what’s needed without being told. For most of us in management, that’s a pretty cool trait.
The second trait is energy. Does this person bring it every day? Do they offer you high-energy performance and youthful enthusiasm? Do they have a sense of fun, and are all in for making sure the work is done well. While this doesn’t require the person be a gym rat, a regular workout routine can help.
Third trait, focus on results, often is a by-product of the second. Do they possess an excitement to do what’s needed, regardless of the time or the effort required? Someone who’s focused on results reminds me of a story about a successful businessman, who when asked his secret, said he set a daily goal of ten things to get done that day. He didn’t quit until all ten were finished, regardless how long it took. That’s someone who focuses on results.
So those are the three key traits that I recommend you consider in assessing self-starter-ness: autonomy, energy, and a focus on results.
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