Reaching Your Potenitial - A Function Of Leadership!
When we procure a piece of equipment, a new production line, different technology, etc. we certainly support every effort to maximize the output. It is not unheard of to take measures requiring well beyond the originally budgeted levels in an attempt to maximize the efficiency of the system. Actually, 98% is often considered unsatisfactory and for good reasons!
Now, when it comes to the people in our organizations (or ourselves for that matter) we act differently! Our expectations are generally much lower and often lack the specific nature necessary to even allow meaningful measurement of those expectations. Yet it is a widely accepted fact that the people in an organization (a.k.a. ”human capital”) represent the one single resource that is largely untapped and by all means underutilized. This does not mean that we as individuals do not ”work hard”. To the contrary most people would confirm the perception that they work too hard and too much to get the results they they are required to achieve. Many do not meet the expectations set forth even though their true potential is not utilized by any means. The adage ”Don’t work harder, work smarter” comes to mind but I suggest this would be oversimplifying the challenges.
Why don’t we reach our potential?
There are certainly many opinions available to the subject but here is at least one view with a solid basis. We acquire in the course of the educational process generally significant volumes of knowledge which is than expanded during our (working) life with skills and experience. So far so good. What seems to be not recognized enough in this context is the positive or negative impact of our attitude and the profound function of our habits on utilizing our knowledge, skills and experience, setting and achieving goals, meeting and exceeding performance standards as well as reaching our true potential. The way I like to interpret the above mentioned fact is following:
- Our attitude is the “driver” of the application of our knowledge, skills and experience.
- Our habits represent the ”cruise control” to apply or knowledge, skills and experience
Without the right attitude combined with good, supportive habits we cannot effectively utilize what we learned throughout our life. Consequently, we are not efficient in reaching our goals, considering we have well defined goals in the first place.
The good part in this situation is that our habits have been learned at some time during our life and by definition can be ”unlearned”, changed, enhanced and strengthened. Our attitude represents the external reflection of our ”habits of thought”. Here too, we have acquired those habits - most of them during our early childhood. This does not necessarily manifest them forever in an unchangeable fashion. To the contrary, as individuals we are in full control of our attitude if we desire to do so - our attitude is our personal choice! This “revelation” must become a key concern and focus especially in the realm of leadership development on all levels of the organizational hierarchy, in project management, sales, etc. Let us not forget that leadership begins with self discipline and self-leadership!
As a consequence personal development and adult learning which has the focus on adding knowledge and skills will do just that - adding knowledge and skills - but will not generate the positive behavioral change required to maximize the “people efficiency factor”. Therefore, it deems of critical importance to accept the fact that a focus attitude development. habit promotion and change, goal setting and goal achievement processes as well as “visioning” and “valueship” is a necessity for creating the needed positive behavior change. Increasing the utilization of our knowledge and skills requires sustainable ‘’self leadership”, good life balance and an effective goal setting & achievement process.
Manfred Gollent, Business Coach,
QLI International
http://www.qli-international.com
phone: (864)877-5235
E-mail: mgollent@qli-international.com
Manfred has 30 years of international Fortune 500 company experience where he has lead corporations as a turn-around executive in Europe, USA and Asia. Now Manfred is consulting to principals of companies of different sizes as well as individuals in entrepreneurial roles with a focus on strategy, efficiency management, as well as human resources development in the areas of leadership, sales, time strategies and customer loyalty. In addition to his engagement with organizations and open enrollment workshops, he is coaching individuals to help them maximize their potential and achieve their goals more consistently.
Tags: attitude, coaching, goal-setting, habits, Leadership, personal development