At times, potential seems like this hypothetical that we arbitrarily measure yet never fully achieve. From a young age, we experience the opinions of other people who determine whether or not we are ‘living up to our full potential’.
Potential, by definition, encompasses the qualities that can be developed, or it can be one’s capacity to become or develop in the future. Is this something we are always chasing, like success, where the end point is on a forever changing horizon based upon the choices that are made on a daily basis? In an age of assessments that measure personality tendencies (Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, DISC, etc.) the effort to better understand who we are (both on a personal and professional level) is now an industry worth about $2 billion dollars. From matchmaking to recruitment, the desire to understand our own or someone’s potential seems to be unquenchable.
Yet, personality tests, while insightful, may only capture a person’s possible (not potential) responses to situations, deeming whether or not reactions are considered positive or a risk. While it is helpful to build awareness, is this a true measurement of one’s potential or simply one’s possibilities in the scripted circumstances? At what moment does this place a ceiling on potential by assigning a “you are (x)” category or label.
Don’t get me wrong, I love these assessments and have taken them all in hopes to better understand why certain responses are manifested, which preferences are patterns, and how to build more possibilities from more innate abilities, or talent. In terms of human capital management, Gallup’s CliftonStrengths assessment provides a deeper dive than the surface understanding of personality to one’s innate talent DNA of what shapes a person, what strengths drive decisions, behaviors, responses and which of those themes are simply not on one’s radar.
The insight from this assessment is not a label, but rather a collection of talent themes that we all possess in a unique order that can bring self-awareness to how we go about reaching our goals, interacting with others, and insight as to why and how we engage with information, people, or even certain experiences.
Rather than a label that may place limits, the information from this assessment begins to enhance possibilities that may be developed into potential, which, in my experience, is a variable dependent upon human talent, experiences, and engagement. At both the personal and professional level, potential then becomes something that we can manage, take control of through coaching and intentionality to fully develop who we are, and develop systems to filter areas that are not on our radar so that we can maximize our performance, responses, interactions, and more.
If you have been told that you are or aren’t reaching your full potential, if you feel as though labels have placed restrictions on your spectrum of possibilities, I invite you to step into the world of strengths. Uncover the possibilities that come from understanding your innate design and the potential that is found from aiming your strengths to reach your goals, to fulfill your passions, and overall,
your purpose.
Potential may be the qualities or the capacity to develop towards success, so I invite you to take charge of this development- Whatever your goals may be. Bring the horizon of your potential success to the forefront of your reality. Click here to begin your journey with me: Consultancy Services | DAS Co. | Chattanooga (decideactsolve.com)
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