WorkCookie - Get Ahead with Industrial/Organizational Psychology in the Workplace Ep. 290: How To Identify High Potential "Reluctant Leaders" in the "Persuadable" Zone
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Jan 26, 2026 Lee Crowson, experienced leader and instructor on bias and fair promotion practices. Nicolas Krueger, panel contributor focused on pipeline building and relationship-based talent spotting. Natasha Desjardines, workplace strategist who finds informal leaders and motivations for leading. They discuss spotting high-potential reluctant leaders, using multiple data points, reducing visibility bias, and designing sustainable advancement paths.
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Measure Reluctance And Support Development
- Include structured assessment of reluctance and its causes before promoting someone.
- Provide stretch experiences, coaching, and role redesign to make leadership sustainable.
Culture Shapes Willingness To Lead
- Unhealthy existing leadership models deter capable people from stepping up.
- Organizational leadership culture shapes willingness to lead more than individual ability.
Use 360s And Peer Input For Selection
- Use multiple data points (peers, support staff, 360s) to understand someone's broader workplace impact.
- Avoid relying solely on visible, outspoken employees when selecting leaders.