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As I slowly navigate through internship application season, I'm struck by a trend: a pervasive lack of trust in the abilities of young professionals. To combat this, there's an expectation for us to significantly enhance our technological skills to gain an edge in even entry-level opportunities. However, I worry this emphasis on technical prowess undermines the value of personal qualities critical for developing the next generation of Limitless Leaders.
As a young professional, it's disheartening to encounter consistent reluctance to provide growth and learning due to experience concerns, which undermines the very purpose of seeking such opportunities. Thus, we are expected not only to pursue these opportunities but also to simultaneously grow our experiences. Given Gen-Z’s statistical burnout rate, I worry that the immense pressure and lack of support when expected to quadruple our technical skills will impede the development of empathetic leaders in the future. In this era of rapid change and evolving challenges, nurturing personable leaders and professionals is essential for fostering inclusive, resilient, and forward-thinking communities and organizations.
Drawing from experiences in amplifying my leadership abilities, I can attest firsthand to the importance of nurturing leadership qualities early in someone's career—a task that requires support from current leaders, focusing on personal growth rather than solely on their skill sets. This prompts the question: How can established professionals decide whom to provide growth and professional development opportunities to when the individual lacks previous experience? Here are my recommendations:
Prioritize Creativity and Initiative: Look for candidates who show creativity and a proactive attitude. By prioritizing these qualities over past experience, teams can cultivate innovation and adaptability, aligning with the organization's vision for growth.
Establish Clear Definitions and Vision: Organizations should have clear definitions and visions to identify, support, and promote emerging leaders within their departments or teams. This clarity provides a framework for evaluating candidates based on their alignment with organizational goals and values, rather than solely on past experience.
Assess Transferable Skills and Growth Potential: Evaluate candidates based on their transferable skills and potential for growth. This includes qualities such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, adaptability, and teamwork. Assessing growth potential allows for the identification of individuals who can quickly learn and adapt to new challenges.
Implement Mentorship and Shadowing Programs: Create mentorship and shadowing programs to provide learning opportunities for less experienced individuals. Pairing them with experienced mentors allows for knowledge transfer and skill development while shadowing opportunities offer exposure to different roles and workflows within the organization.
The emerging leaders in your life may not be completely qualified for your needs, but they are most definitely qualified enough to learn. It may take time, but I find it crucial to identify individuals worth investing in to better foster the next generation of Limitless Leaders before qualities such as empathy, teamwork, and adaptability virtually become extinct within future management. There must be proactive recognition of potential within every domain, no matter experience, to commit to fostering these skills.