The complex nature of human potential earns much attention in the domains of personality assessments, development initiatives, and talent assessments. All os us working in these areas, are relentlessly working on measuring and identifying potential – or perhaps I should say “raw potential” by applying reputable scientific theories and assessments. Still, at the core of this conversation is a topic that is vital to consider -a topic that is both difficult to address and hard to define, namely “What barriers exist between raw potential and realization of potential?”
One way of perceiving human potential is as an indication of the time and support needed for an individual to reach next level complexity, yet, regardless of the presence of great raw potential, not all – actually only few – reaches a stage of realization when one could say that they realized their full potential. Not all of us reach our end-goals or the stages that we were predicted to be able to reach despite vast raw potential, while others, with same or less estimated raw potential do. Why?
After years of working in the field, it is clear to me that Raw Potential cannot stand alone. It needs external nurturing such as culture, leadership, and guidance, as well as internal enabling traits and perspectives to pave the way. Just as Raw Potential flourishes in the presence of support, trust, and others’ faith, it vanishes in the absence of these factors. Likewise, inner factors, like fear of failure, emotional imbalance, closed mindset, etc. will impact significantly on how raw potential is developing.
On balance, this raises an important question: Should these conditions also be evaluated and analyzed in order to provide a more comprehensive picture of an individual’s potential?
I believe that potential is more than just a latent resource that has to be activated. Instead, it should be viewed as a seed that requires the right conditions to sprout, grow, and eventually flourish. This conceptual shift emphasizes how important it is to match an individual’s strengths with an environment that either facilitates or obstructs advancement.
As we consider the route from Raw Potential to actualization, a more thorough discussion of the major roadblocks that stand in the way of this process is required. What impact does a person’s environment have on their development? Is it feasible to examine one’s personal and one’s career’s advancement without taking into account the impact of external factors on potential?
The alternatives available to people for their own development are greatly influenced by the environment, which is often overlooked or underestimated. For HR professionals and business leaders, these aspects are not less important. By opening or closing doors, we can affect the direction and extent to which potential can be realized and therefore, recognizing how human capacities and environmental impacts interact symbiotically is crucial for a thorough understanding of development.
