Success in your career – and in life overall – is heavily dependent on leveraging your potential to the fullest. And here’s the good news: You probably have more potential than you realize.
And it’s available for you to access.
But, to get there, you first need to really understand what potential is – and is not. The word is widely misunderstood and the broader concept (unrealized potential) suffers as a result.
What Exactly Is Potential?
Potential is what you have the ability to accomplish … based upon any number of factors that are specific to you: interests, skills, world view, values. It’s your potential … it’s not the same for everyone. And it’s not some template of generic goals (salary, size of team, achievements, etc.) that you should accumulate.
For many people, however, this short nine-word definition can be extremely confusing and challenging.
· It regularly is misunderstood. People spend time wondering how “to rise to the top” or how to secure a desired title at work. That’s not potential. It’s career planning – which is important, but different.
· Many people face obstacles to knowing their potential but it disproportionately impacts women and People of Color. Systemic issues that create low self-expectations, or adaptive process, simply exacerbate a playing field that is already slanted against them.
· Employers aren’t very helpful. Employer attempts to identify high-potential employees haven’t resulted in a very good batting average. Social scientist Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic cites several reasons, including focusing on the wrong indicators of potential at the expense of ignoring its critical or basic ingredients. “And if you are really good at assessing the wrong thing, you won’t get very far,” he writes.
Reaching Your Full Potential
Fortunately, overcoming these obstacles is achievable, but it requires you to own the challenge. If you were driving in a new town and came upon a roadblock, you wouldn’t park the car and sit there until someone decided to move it. Nor would you turn around and just go home. You would work to solve the problem by using GPS for an alternate route or if the road obstacle is moveable, ask people for help to move it. Treat obstacles in the same manner. It’s your job. You can’t expect others to do it for you.
The payoff is worth it as there are multiple benefits awaiting you.
Individuals who focus on potential rather than measurable/visible achievement feel fulfilled professionally and personally. They are more engaged, at home and at work. Their future looks brighter to them and they are excited about that prospect. Their day-to-day activities are less boring, and tasks and activities that previously annoyed them now make more sense.
These are just some of the rewards. Although they aren’t judging themselves by a title, salary, the size of an office, etc., those may accrue, as well, but only as a secondary outcome of them achieving their potential.
Not surprisingly, a myriad of individual actions is critical to reaching your reserve of untapped potential. But, at the end of the day, they tend to logically fit into these three larger categories
Mind Set Adjustments
Individuals access their full potential when they have the right mind set. More specifically: a growth mind set rather than a fixed mindset.
A growth mindset is grounded in the following:
· Extending beyond your familiar comfort zone. Take responsibility and assume ownership over your life. With ownership, very little is beyond your reach because you are in charge and – most importantly – are able to be intentional in everything you do.
· Insist upon excellence of thought and curiosity. Don’t accept mediocre ideas, recommendations, or the status quo. Think about everything that comes into your life. Analyze and consider the drivers and implications of each development. Be curious. It is additive … and addictive. And it enables you to grow.
· Be honest with yourself, irrespective of how your life is going or not going. Develop clarity of your strengths, weaknesses, development areas and blind spots. Your potential and how you get there is a personal journey. Self-honesty gets you there.
In contrast, a fixed mind set – as the name implies – is limiting and, frequently, negative. You hold very concrete beliefs about certain of your abilities or talents. In fact, your self-view may be the same since childhood and you may have imposed personal guard rails that prevent fresh thought and growth needed to reach your potential.
American psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck’s research shows that embracing challenges, focusing on effort over outcome, and having a belief that you can grow and improve are critical components to reaching your full potential.
Being Opportunistic
You can help find your potential by being intentional in everything you do, and by aligning your interests and strengths with opportunities. As your reach and explore, ensure you prepare for opportunities to appear and then take advantage of them.
“When opportunity knocks, it’s too late to prepare,” writes consultant and advisor Mark Sephton. “When you are not reflecting or looking within your soul, you are not prepared for the good, bad and ugly that most certainly will arise during the course of your life. However, when we’re conscious of our own life …, we’re set to take the learning and failings and draw the positives out of both.”
Individuals who realize their potential understand they can create their own luck and change their circumstances. They say what they want. They make their case. They realize that the more people who know what they want, the more likely they are to get an opportunity.
And when it emerges, they are ready.
Final Thought
Don’t worry about figuring out your potential. Instead, focus on living your life intentionally and with a growth mind set. Let people know what you want and be prepared and open to take advantage of opportunities as they appear.
If you remain true to this path, you will realize your full potential.
