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You take your vehicle to the dealership for routine maintenance. In some cases, this is a welcome opportunity to grab a complimentary coffee and dive into some work in their well-designed waiting area, complete with air conditioning and free Wi-Fi.

Until…they spot you.

You know who they are. The salespeople!

“Would you be interested in trading your vehicle?”

“We have a brand-new model on the showroom floor. Would you like to see it?”

They do this, not to interrupt your solitude, but because they understand you are a qualified lead in the sales pipeline.

• You have purchased a vehicle from them in the past.
• You apparently like it enough to maintain it.
• You may be ready for an upgrade.
• And you are in that “new car smell” environment, where shiny objects abound.

It doesn’t get more qualified than this.

The world is full of qualified leads, but becoming a qualified leader is an entirely different perspective.

Where are you in the “Qualified Leader Pipeline?”

Here’s a quick checklist you can run through on a regular basis to check your leadership pipeline.

Answer each on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being a definite “No” and 5 being a definite “Yes”. Be honest with yourself in your answers.

• Calm – Are you able to maintain a calm resolve amid chaos or challenge?
• Candid – Can you speak the truth in love to those you serve?
• Capable – Are you physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally capable of doing the work required to lead?
• Careful – Are you deliberate and careful in your decision-making?
• Caring – Do you truly care about those you lead?
• Centered – Are you centered on core values as an individual and as an organization?
• Champion – Do you champion causes related to your core values and defend your team members in the face of adversity?
• Character – Do you maintain a high level of character?
• Charismatic – Do you bring the enthusiasm your team needs you to bring?
• Clear – Are you clear when it comes to communication, goals, and directives?
• Committed – Are you committed to your values, your relationships, and your work?
• Compassionate – Do you care to the point of helping others?
• Competent – Are you knowledgeable in your chosen field of service?
• Comprehensive – Can you see the big picture?
• Confident – Are you a confident leader?
• Connecting – Are you actively connecting each day with your team, your community, your clients and vendors, and your family and friends? Do you connect needs with solutions?
• Consistent – Are you consistent in your actions and attitude as a leader?
• Cooperative – Do you value the power that comes from working with others whose strengths may differ from yours?
• Courageous – Are you willing to face the challenges from which others run?
• Creative – Do you regularly generate new ideas and bring them to reality?

What are your results?

Now, total your scores. This will help you know where you are currently in the leadership pipeline and how you can get to the next level.

1-20 – Getting Started

You may not have a lot of leadership experience, but you have taken the first step here by being honest in your assessment. Note your top three areas and hold the mark on those. Now note three additional areas where you can improve in the next 90 days. Set daily habits that will get you there! Then reassess at the end of those 90 days.

21-40 – Making Progress

You are on your way! You have taken the time to grow to this point. Undoubtedly, you have established core values, and you are building on those. Your goal for the next 90 days would be to choose three areas that would make the most impact in your leadership and influence. Focus on those with daily habits and learning. Books, podcasts, courses, coaching – explore how you can take your leadership to the next level.

41-60 – Gaining Momentum

You don’t reach this level without having a foundation of values and a focus on intentional action. At this level, it can be easy to “rest on one’s laurels”. You may have a position of leadership with some modicum of success. But don’t stop there. Build on the momentum you have created by taking intentional action. How can you actively grow outside your current comfort zone? What is your strategic plan for growth over the next 90 days?

61-80 – Getting Traction

You have worked hard to grow as a leader, and it shows! Now, let’s examine your bottom three scores. What can you do over the next 90 days to overcome those weaker areas? Left unattended, they can undermine your progress. How are those weaker areas affecting you, your relationships, and your organization? And how would strengthening them also strengthen those areas?

81-100 – Making a Difference

This is the level of legacy leadership, where you not only lead yourself well; but you are also having a distinct impact on those lead. Your goal for the next 90 days, aside from any personal leadership growth you have identified, would be to determine how you can help others to grow in their leadership. Who will you invest in, and how, over the next 90 days?

For valuable resources on Leadership Strengths and Tools, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!