Efficient leaders exist in every organization. Big or small, there are specific individuals who have the skills you need to carry out your business goals, train new hires and develop the company culture into something incredible. It's important to know what qualities to look for in new hires as you carry out your hiring phases.

Because you may not want to hold out until you find the perfect new hire, here are a few ways you can develop leadership skills in employees to prepare them for greater responsibilities.

Teaching leadership

Leadership may seem like something some people are just born with, when in fact it's a skill that can be cultivated and strengthened over time. Developing leadership skills involves hands-on experience and a team of high-ups who exemplify what it looks like to lead.

Leadership starts with the individual's ability to manage themselves, expectations and workload. Looking for these qualities in your employees can help you choose the right team member who can help carry out management responsibilities for your team.

Some skills you can help your employees build on to become the leader you need for the future:

  • Crisis management: Managing conflict and staying cool under high-stress situations is vital to moving into a leadership role. Consider a thoughtful meeting to go over scenarios and how employees could react versus how they should handle them.
  • Communication: The most significant part of entering a leadership role is knowing how to communicate with others — both your team members and fellow leadership team members. Create a framework for employees early in their careers for what should be shared among the team or elevated to leadership.
  • Vision: Working toward a collective company goal can not only help get to the objective more quickly, but unify teams more efficiently. Communicating with your employees the overall business goals while asking each individual their goals for the future can unify your team.

Not everyone wants to move into a leadership role, but is happy to be supportive of management. Others, however, are excited to develop their skills and move up in the organization with the right guidance and a motivated supervisor. These are the people you want to focus on and help support their goals.

The best way to identify these groups of people within your organization is to get to know your teams. Which people are taking initiative or letting you know that they have goals for the future with the business? Motivation and willingness to learn are excellent indications of someone ready to take the necessary steps toward leadership development.