Hidden Potential, Powerful Signal: How Data is Shaping the Next Generation of Executive Leaders

Sponsored by Workhuman.

Today we’re exploring how leadership intelligence is changing the way organizations identify and develop future executive leaders. We are going to discuss how recognition and workplace data can uncover overlook potential, reduce bias, and help organizations build stronger talent leadership pipeline. But before we begin today’s podcast, please ask yourself these two questions:

Are you using data analytics to identify signals of executive leadership potential?

And number two, is your organization open to reevaluating its traditional succession planning and model?

We are so pleased to be joined today by Jason Gori. He is the senior director of product management at Workhuman, where he leads the evolution of AI and data-driven products that enhance the employee experience. His work focuses on delivering intelligent, scalable platforms that convert everyday workplace behaviors into actionable talent intelligence. Translating all this data into human-centered, yes, we use the word human already, insight for HR and business leaders. With a very impressive career spanning in engineering, analytics, data science, and product management, Jason has played a pivotal role in the development of Workhuman Innovations, including WorkhumanIQ, the AI Assistant, and Admin Hub.

The New Era of AI Data

Organizations now have access to leadership data and signals that simply weren’t available before. Why is this such an exciting time for identifying future leaders? And what can organizations see today that they may have missed in the past?

I believe that we’re at this place where this intersection is happening between AI capabilities, availability of data. And one of the things that we have definitely leaned heavily into is this space that feels as though it’s been begging for a revamp or a rethink, and that is around identification of leaders.

 So the features and the functionality that Workhuman is focusing on that we refer to as future leaders, it’s literally that. It’s bringing together the latest capabilities around artificial intelligence, this ready stream of available data that’s produced through platforms like ours through recognition. And then looking at what we have increasingly heard from our customers is just this somewhat archaic process of identifying leaders for the future.

Identifying Future Leaders

What signal should organizations look for when identifying people who could become transformational leaders?

You kind of hit on one of the things that we are hearing a lot and what we’re seeing is that many of the customers we speak to, the companies that we talk to, they’re in this place where they’ve got this somewhat healthy group of executive leaders today that are leading the business. But as you begin to ask more probing questions around how you think about the future of work, what is the future of work at your company? Who are the individuals that are going to take you to that next horizon? What are the skills and the capabilities and the characteristics of those leaders for tomorrow?

What you start to uncover is that it’s just what has worked maybe historically is not what’s going to work in the future. And so the question around things like strong performance versus leadership potential, what we see, performance conversations happen probably about twice a year, sometimes once a year. And often it’s logged in a way that’s just kind of like checking a box saying, “I did the thing. I had the conversation.”

Everyday Leadership Signals

So Workhuman talks about using recognition and other workplace data to understand how employees influence and elevate the people around them. What can these everyday signals reveal that traditional talent assessment might miss?

What we found interesting is the way that we … This product future leaders, the way it works, the first thing that it does is it looks back historically at individuals that have made it to executive level positions. And it looks to understand what were those characteristics and traits. So that in and of itself … It’s a patent pending technology that we built. That in and of itself goes far beyond the prescribed values that you might find in something like a talent assessment.

And what we’re finding is every customer we go to, what comes out, what we’re referring to as the genome of leadership signals, it’s different for every single company. And so because it’s so unique and it’s so specific to each company, it’s never going to be a thing that’s probably fully identified through talent assessments.

For More Info

For more insights about how AI and data signals are being used to identify the next generation of leaders, listen to this full podcast episode. And be sure to subscribe to the #WorkTrends Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Anytime you want to continue this conversation on social media, follow our #WorkTrends hashtag on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Let’s talk!