If you’re exhausted from getting through the craziness of the last two years with the global pandemic, economic and political uncertainty, and more, you may be looking at ways to take a step back in your business and get some better work-life balance.

If so, and if you’re thinking about succession plans longer term, too, it’s vital to know how to locate the right people to helm your venture moving forward. There are many factors to consider as you do this but read on for some of the ones that should be top of mind to start with.

Look for Workers Who Will Fit within the Company Culture

You want the leaders you choose for your business to fit well within the company culture you have created. They need to have similar values and beliefs to the rest of the team to have fewer disagreements and less tension over time. Morale and productivity rise when people feel in sync, after all.

Look for leaders you can tell will mesh well with other workers right from the start. Be on the lookout for the characteristics you see as being fundamental in your corporate culture and those that tie into your business brand, too. For example, if you own a venture that sells some type of eco-friendly product or service, you’re going to want leaders within the organization to take sustainability seriously, too.

Before hiring leaders, interview them a few times to get a decent feel for not just what they know but also who they are. It helps to have a few employees sit in on interviews to ask questions and listen to responses to get a clear idea of who might be the most compatible with the whole team.

Seek Out Those Who are Interested in Learning, Growing, and Being Curious

Another crucial component is finding potential leaders who don’t feel like they already know everything. Instead, you want to hire people interested in learning, growing, and being curious. After all, business is an environment where change can happen a lot, and unexpected yet welcome opportunities arise on occasions.

People need to handle these ups and downs by having an open mind. Use performance management techniques to get into more conversational depth when considering potential leaders and pick up on their commitment to learning or lack of such an interest. Effective managers stay open to new ideas and opportunities. They respect and actively listen to the suggestions of others. A growth mindset is vital for leadership, no matter what industry your business may be in. Ask plenty of questions to get a sense for who is most likely to keep trying and picking up new things.

It helps to learn if people are degree qualified or not and, if so, in what. Anyone who has completed a university course has at least a decent amount of willpower that’s likely to stem from being interested in expanding their mind. Other ways to pick up on if people like to learn new things include seeing if candidates attend conferences or other business events, take part in business clubs and associates, listen to podcasts, read or listen to books, join business clubs and associations, and so on.

Examine Communication Skills

Another vital factor for leaders in any industry and business type is communication. Anyone who’s going to manage a team must be able to get their ideas, thoughts, concerns, and more across in a tactful yet effective way. You need to find those who excel at talking about their vision and goals and who can explain information or requests clearly and concisely each time.

Good leaders are also excellent at conveying appropriate passion, energy, confidence, and focus through the words and tone they use and the body language they engage with. They encourage workers and help them keep motivated, inspired, and productive in turn. The most effective managers can deal with conflict quickly and effectively, too, and don’t raise their voice or say nasty things if they hear something they don’t like or get their own way.

Search for leadership candidates whose communication skills shine both when in group settings and one-on-one with people. They should be comfortable chatting across multiple platforms, too, such as face to face and via the phone or computer. Plus, leaders need to have excellent writing skills. You may like to get leadership candidates to complete a test or two to gauge their suitability for your firm.

These are three top tips for finding the right leaders to move your organization forward.  Take your time selecting them, and don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions. This will help you ascertain more effectively who people are behind the masks.