In business, we often hear the phrase ‘reaching their full potential’ used when discussing the performance of employees.
Business owners should understand that the concept of an individual’s ‘full potential’ is a myth that’s too easily bought into with the unfortunate result being that we limit our ability to understand what we know and what we’re good at.
Potential is inherently unknown. Who among us knows what our true potential is? I know that I don’t. As I’ve gotten older and looked back at some of the things I’ve accomplished I realise that I could not have envisioned being involved in these efforts when I was young.
As I reflect on my earlier days, I realise that there were many other opportunities that didn’t capture my interest enough for me to devote time and energy to learning more about them.
I’m sure this is a feeling many reading this will understand. Who knows what potential I might have realised if I’d been passionate enough to pursue them?
This brings us to the second reason why full potential is a myth: potential increases over time.
Expansion over time
With age and experience our potential expands and develops. We gain knowledge and we see how to apply that knowledge to a broad array of situations.
In other words, our experience enables us to see connections between what we previously thought were separate and distinct situations.
With each new experience and each new insight our potential increases. Often that leads to a desire to explore something foreign to our everyday activities.
It’s one of the reasons why we see adults exploring career choices completely different than the ones in which they’ve been involved for decades.
Despite their lack of background or experience in their new field of choice, they have assured success because they are following their passion. It’s their passion that makes learning what they need to know fun and exciting for them.
Additionally, they have the added advantage of confidence based upon earlier successes.
Another way to look at potential is as a byproduct of desire. The greater the desire we possess for whatever interests us, whether that be becoming a better salesperson, or creating more impressive jewellery, the greater the success we’ll enjoy in pursuit of that interest.
Each success increases our potential. So, what does this mean for you and your business?
Never set limits
Do not limit your potential by assuming you’ve reached your peak ability. Whenever you feel that you’ve reached the pinnacle of whatever you do, or find that it’s no longer fun, remind yourself that you have the potential to master whatever intrigues you and then pursue it.
Remind yourself of the excitement you experienced when you embarked upon your current endeavors. Recall how your passion fueled the amount of time and energy you put into learning more and more about what you were doing and how that assured your success.
Then apply these memories to exploring what intrigues you now. The passion you feel will assure that you are equally, if not more, successful in your new endeavor.
In other words, realize that none of us knows what potential we possess, but we do know that potential improves with age and experience.
Lessons for your staff
Whenever you hear someone speaking of an employee reaching their full potential share the following thoughts with them.
• Just because potential exists doesn’t mean that desire exists as well. Over the years we’ve each found that we have strengths that represent potential, but we have no desire to use these strengths in ways others envision for us.
• Full potential is unknown to any of us because our interests and passions change over time. As new interests surface, our potential increases as well.
Potential increases over time as we begin to see new ways of employing what we’ve learned to new, seemingly disparate issues or activities.
If you’re mentoring a member of staff about an area of improvement, ask them how interested they are in pursuing that path.
If they say they are interested but their demeanor doesn’t exhibit the excitement that normally accompanies their claim, let them know that potential doesn’t assure success; passion does.
Let them know that it’s okay not to pursue an ability or accomplishment just because the potential exists.
The places in which they’ll find their greatest joy and success in is those that they are passionate about. They’ll thank you for these insights.
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