Who are High Potentials Employees and How to Identify Them

Looking for potential candidates to drive your company towards a different market of opportunities?

Who are High Potentials Employees and How to Identify Them?

High potentials employees (HiPos) are the individuals you should be on the lookout for if you are looking to propel your companies and businesses to new markets and opportunities. These are the employees that will be on the forefront of your team and the driving force for the company. HiPos are employees who demonstrate immense potential and aspirations with tangible results and successive leadership amongst the team.

It can be a tricky task to notice and pick out such individuals from a large group especially when you are not sure of what to look for. According to data obtained by Harvard Business Review, companies often make the mistakes of identifying the wrong high potentials employees and investing in the wrong people. Not only is that a bad decision for the company but also a bad investment of the company’s resources and time. So how do you know who are the right people? What are the key indicators of star potentials?

Boldness and great desire to take up leadership.
These are the driven people that do not wish to be stationary, they hungry and eager to move upwards to higher positions. When given a specific project or task, these are the individuals that will pitch out ideas and strategies, they will be proactive and motivated.

Ability to deliver results.
High potentials employees take pride and confidence in their works and these can be seen through the results they deliver. They will demonstrate the knowledge, skills, cognitive abilities and creativity in problem-solving.

Not shy in asking for guidance and help.
Despite their confidence and boldness, high potentials employees also recognize that they too need help and guidance and will not be shy in seeking these out from their managers and superiors. They see this as a growing experience and an opportunity to connect with higher levels.

Socially adaptable and the ultimate team player.
Being socially adaptable is an important trait for any employee but for high potentials employees, they will take this to the next level. They believe in developing and maintaining good working relationships between the team. They understand the importance of building networks, alliances and contacts in a fast-growing environment.

Once you notice these high potentials employees within your company, recognize their efforts and intelligence. Invest in training them, place them in programs, give them the opportunities and space for growth. Chances are, these are the individuals that will bring great benefits and profits to your business in the long run. As Henry Ford once said, “The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay.”

Writer: Syafiqaa Al