I love leaders who execute, leaders who get it done, leaders who can take a project across the finish line.

Great leaders are great finishers.

When it comes to hiring new employees, no other characteristic is more important than someone who can finish. It is the No. 1 trait related to work ethic that I look for in a new hire.

Anyone can come up with a new idea, a new concept, a new pithy word, a new organization or a new perspective. This is a bit overrated in the leadership landscape.

What ultimately matters is whether you can take an idea from concept to completion. This is the secret sauce. The differentiator. And to do that, you have to be a finisher.

And you have to have finishers on your team, the folks who are intrinsically wired to make things happen and bulldog their way to the finish line. They find joy in checking things off the list. But not just a task machine. Anyone can take an order and then go complete it. What matters is whether you can carry the ball all the way down the field and actually cross the finish line.

Take a moment and think about who that is on your team. If you don't have someone in this role, go find them immediately. This is incredibly important if you are the leader. You have to have someone on your team in whom you have ultimate confidence that if you hand them a project, they will get it done, and without your constant management of them. The answer can't constantly be "We're still working on it." That is an excuse for either being lazy or unfocused. You're either moving forward or backward.

And for every organization, it is imperative that everyone plays the finisher role, including you as the leader. CEOs, creative directors, marketing VPs, executive producers and discipleship pastors—all have to be able to get it done, to make it happen. Now, some have to execute more than others, but no one can only be the idea person. Everyone is required to execute and own projects from start to finish. It's a non-negotiable.

From my time at Catalyst, one thing we always take incredible pride in is being able to take a concept and turn it into a finished project. This is a distinctive part of our culture here. We're serious about it. It's part of our DNA.

Be a finisher!

Brad Lomenick is president and key visionary of Catalyst—a movement purposed to equip and inspire young Christian leaders through events, resources, consulting and community. Follow him on Twitter @bradlomenick, or read his personal blog at bradlomenick.com.

For the original article, visit bradlomenick.com.

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