Unleash It!
On airplanes, in restaurants, in the newspaper and on television, I often hear people saying their businesses are not growing to their satisfaction or that they are not reaching their objectives. The explanations that follow consist of reasons like:
? It's the economy
? Our customers don't get it
? I don't have the right people on the team
I could go on, and so could you.I think that is all a bunch of hogwash.People (both those doing the talking, and those they are talking about) are not all they can be. The organization is not all it can be. Both have tremendous untapped potential sitting there, waiting to be recognized and tapped. Both have potential waiting to be unleashed.
Dictionary.com defines potential as "the inherent ability or capacity for growth, development, or coming into being, or something possessing the capacity for growth or development."
When we point to others and other factors as the cause to our problems (in business or any part of our life) we are missing the point. We hold many of the answers ourselves. Maybe not in this moment, but when we unleash our potential, we unleash talents, skills, perspectives and ideas that can help us solve the problems we face and (as no small side benefit) become more fulfilled in our lives. Simply stated, as caretakers of our own lives we are cheating ourselves if we don't do everything we can to unleash our potential ? that innate ability within us waiting to be developed.
As leaders in organizations, our responsibility for unleashing potential is at least as great as it is for us personally. We are responsible for results, for meeting the needs of Customers, for helping and empowering people, and for generally doing the good things our organizations exist to do. If we aren't helping those around us unleash their potential, are we really doing our job?
You know the answer.
So the question isn't, are we doing all we can to unleash the tremendous potential that exists, but how do we do that?In very short form here are some of the key steps you can take to begin unleashing your potential or the potential in others. As you read these steps, think about it in both ways ? both from the perspective of helping others and of helping yourself.
1. Believe. Tug McGraw, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies said throughout an improbably run to a World Series Championship, "Ya Gotta Believe!" An entire team, and an entire city did, and the team went further and accomplished more that they initially believed they could. Tug helped that team unleash their potential, because he believed, and helped others believe too. If you don't believe your team has the ability to achieve or accomplish more, how likely are those accomplishments to occur?
2. Recognize. You can believe the potential is there and you can start by doing that on faith, but then you have to recognize exactly what is there. The specific mix of potentials that I possess is different than yours. The mix is different for everyone. Recognition helps us target the ways we can stretch and gives us clues about what to do in the steps that follow.
3. Expect. There are all sorts of studies that deal with expectation and how powerful it is. Want to do just one thing to help a team you work with improve? Really expect improvement. Let the team know that you have a positive expectation, based on your belief in them and the skills they possess. Act on this belief and this expectation. Let your behavior prove your words. You will be amazed at the change you will see, almost overnight. If we know this to be true with our expectations of others, while you are at it why not raise your expectations of yourself too?
4. Plan. You need a plan. Once you see potential and have higher expectations for it, you need a plan to help unleash that potential. That plan might include study, a mentor, courses, books, new habits, changes in environment and many other things. You will be able to build your plan based on your specific situation. Use this step to help others tailor a plan for themselves too.
5. Invest. You have to invest in the plan. The plan isn't enough. You must take action. Putting your plan into action requires investments in discipline, time and perhaps money. You can't unleash potential without some investment.
6. Effort. Sustained effort is required. Notice I said effort, not work. If you are moving towards your unique innate potentials it won't always be work, but it will take effort. You've heard it said "there is no free lunch." It is true for your potential. Yes the potential is inside you, but it takes effort to bring it out. You might ask is it worth it? Well, what is it worth to raise your self confidence? What is it worth to raise your skills? What is it worth to meet your objectives and goals? What is it worth to feel more fulfilled in your life? What is it worth to be happier? What is it worth to have greater earning potential? Continually moving towards your potential will give you all these things. My guess is it is worth the effort.
7. Patience. Sometimes you will make fast gains, other times the advancement may seem slow. Be patient. Be persistent. You are worth the wait. Help others and be patient with them. They are worth the wait as well.
8. New Targets. The master violinist, Jascha Heifetz said, "There is no top. There are always further heights to reach." So it is with our potential. Each of us (and each organization) is brimming with potential. When you recognize some potential skill or talent some and master it, the pool will still be full. When you have made the gains identified in your plan, go back to step one and with the great excitement of knowing that this process works, begin again.
This isn't a topic that can be covered this briefly ? this is only a start. There are many facets to potential, both for us as individuals and for unleashing the potential in those around us. Right now, don't worry about that - just get started.
I encourage you to do at least three things with this information:
1. Think about the steps laid out above, and start believing in your own amazing potential.
2. Begin to recognize your unique set of potentials.
3. Share this article with others you know who would benefit from these ideas.
© 2004, All Rights Reserved, Kevin Eikenberry. Kevin publishes Unleash Your Potential, a free weekly ezine designed to provide ideas, tools, techniques and inspiration to enhance your professional skills. Go to http://www.kevineikenberry.com/uypw/current.a sp to read the current issue and subscribe. Kevin is also President of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that helps Clients reach their potential through a variety of training, consulting and speaking services. You may contact Kevin at toll free 888.LEARNER.
 Google News Updated : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:51:58 GMT Would UN Security Council Postpone Any Prosecution of Sudanese Leader? - Voice of America
Voice of America - By Joe De Capua As the International Criminal Court (ICC) considers whether to issue arrest warrants for Sudanese President al-Bashir, some are calling on the UN Security Council to block the action. Sudan's Beshir pledges peace as he leaves Darfur Jordan's lower house opposes charges against Sudanese president Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:30:10 GMT South Texas begins cleanup after Hurricane Dolly - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - HARLINGEN, Texas (AP) - Residents across south Texas slogged through knee-deep muddy waters, tiptoed around downed power lines and dug through debris Thursday, but were thankful that Hurricane Dolly didn't pack the wallop they had feared. Video: Tropical Storm Dolly Causes Flood Worries Dolly weakens, pushes inland Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:21:14 GMT FOX News Poll: No Bounce for Obama From Overseas Trip - FOXNews
FOXNews - By Dana Blanton The significant news coverage Barack Obama is receiving on his foreign trip has not translated into a bounce in his numbers, a just-released FOX News poll shows. Wanted: 2 million poll workers for November  Comment by Leonard Steinhorn Prof, School of Communication, American UniversityPubl.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:24:50 GMT Swimmer’s Positive Test Puts Olympic Berth Doubt - New York Times
New York Times - By KAREN CROUSE The swimmer Jessica Hardy has not been penalized for a doping offense despite published reports that she tested positive for a banned substance. Video: Source:Hardy Tests Positive for Banned Substance Sequence doesn't make Sense Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:21:30 GMT Arizona reports first West Nile death of 2008 - Bizjournals.com
Bizjournals.com - Arizona has reported its first death from the West Nile virus this year. It also is the first West Nile death in the US this year. First bird in Nassau tests positive for West Nile Fighting West Nile Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:45:00 GMT Health Buzz: A $500 million Antismoking Campaign and Other Health News - U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report - Billionaires Bill Gates and New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced yesterday that they'll contribute a combined $500 million to a worldwide antismoking campaign, the New York Times reports. Video: Gates, Bloomberg Pool Riches to Fight Smoking The $500 million war on smoking Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:43:30 GMT Ford Has $8.7 Billion Loss, Shifts Away From Trucks (Update4) - Bloomberg Bloomberg - By Bill Koenig July 24 (Bloomberg) -- Ford Motor Co., the world's third- biggest automaker, posted a record quarterly loss of $8.7 billion and accelerated a conversion to fuel-efficient vehicles to wean itself from money-losing trucks. Ford's Worst Quarter Ever Ford Posts Loss of $8.7 Billion on Asset Woes Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 18:07:48 GMT Increased Web Site Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... You've spent the last 12 years riding your technical skills... Read More The hologram is a three-dimensional photograph made on a flat... Read More Though out your career you may be asked to become... Read More latent (adj.) ? Not visible or apparent, but capable of... Read More Did you know that people who lead strategically resemble fine-tuned... Read More By definition a leaders leads a team to take action... Read More Tough and challenging times will surely come. That is a... Read More Leaders need to:1. Have a vision to which they are... Read More Life on our planet flourishes through feedback. If life forms... Read More If you gather 100 experienced leaders together to share with... Read More I had the good fortune (or misfortune depending on your... Read More Right about now, you've made the discovery that... Read More Webster's Dictionary describes a "partner" as an ally or an... Read More When is hate OK? When it's the feeling you have... Read More Personal attacks hurt people, mar communication, and end creativity. If... Read More There is a steady flow of information in the form... Read More Your word is your truth - Know that when you... Read More "...And winged hope, with heart of fire, To gain the... Read More Many solopreneurs work in a team environment either with their... Read More 1. Good Communicator. Extraordinary Leaders are those who can take... Read More It is often much harder for women to get promoted... Read More The ancient Greeks had a saying: "When Aschines speaks, the... Read More For many of us, asking for help is a difficult... Read More People don't leave jobs; they leave bosses. -- AnonymousCongratulations. You're... Read More "You do not merely want to be considered just the... Read More
Adsense
websites
People Problems -- Understanding the Dueling Paradigms
The Leadership Talk As A Living Hologram
Mentors and Coaches: How to Be A Great Mentor
10 Ways to Develop Your Latent Leader
10 Attributes of Effective Strategic Leaders!
Leadership Styles and What We Need For the Future:
Being an Extraordinary Leader Through Tough and Challenging Times
The Three Essential Attributes of a Leader: The Demonstrated Abilities
Your Ultimate Leadership Feedback Loop: Their Leadership
Leadership: Wisdom of the Ages
Why the Squirrel Kept Winning!
Visions of Leadership
The Goals of Leadership Coaching and Partnerships
To be, or Not to be (Average)?
Managing Monsters in Meetings - Part 7, Personal Attacks
Leader is Not a Title
Are You a Good Manager or a Great Leader?
3 Ds For Leadership Action... Dedicate, Direct, Dialogue!
Leadership and Followership in a Team Setting
Top Skills Of Extraordinary Leaders
Women in Leadership - How to Get Promoted
In Leadership, The Eight Ways Of Right Action (Part 1)
Asking for Help
F2 Leadership
Leadership In The Zone!
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Extraordinary People in Mediocre Times
My grandfather used to speak of the days when people... Read More
Heres The REAL Reason Bush Won: The Dark Night Of The Leadership Soul
George Bush won the election because he was finally able... Read More
The Leader Within
Each and every one of you has hidden deep inside... Read More
Always Be Open To Learning
"We should not only use all the brains we have,... Read More
The Four Laws Of Leadership (Part Two)
In Part One, I described the laws of motivation. In... Read More
Lead People...Manage Things
Master The Five Key Facets of High Performance LeadershipMany people... Read More
A Blueprint for Leadership - How to Be a Better Leader
If you were to build a house, you would begin... Read More
The Metamorphosis of the Successful Executive . . . Overcoming Professional Stagnation
You're a bright, successful business executive making good money and... Read More
People Problems -- Understanding the Dueling Paradigms
You've spent the last 12 years riding your technical skills... Read More
Pure Discipline
General George S. Patton was born on November 11, 1885... Read More
C4 Leadership: Taking Your Leadership (and your Life) from Good...To Explosive!
Chances are if you're interested in this post, you're looking... Read More
The Tao of Leadership
There can be no doubt that the ancient author of... Read More
Act on Some of the Facts
Making any decision without having all of the information and... Read More
The Code of the Conference Leader
Are your meetings generally a waste of time? Do you... Read More
How to Become a Great Leader & Improve Your Leadership Skills
A great leader is able to inspire his/her workers to... Read More
Career Advice for Business Leaders: Empowering Others
Many potential leaders in business sabotage themselves and their organizations... Read More
Leadership Training Seminar - What Makes A Great Leader?
At one point or another, we have all been either... Read More
Recommended Books on Leadership and Team Building
The single most important thing a leader can do is... Read More
In Leadership, The Eight Ways Of Right Action (Part 2)
In Part 1, I said that leaders who can't have... Read More
Quality Leadership
The Lakota tribe of Native Americans has no word in... Read More
Four Obstacles to Exceptional Leadership--Part 1
"Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of... Read More
Exceptional Leadership Inspires the Best Effort in Others
There is a steady stream being written and taught about... Read More
Listening Like a Leader
Our studies of the most effective people in corporate America... Read More
The Leadership Strategy: An Unmined Comstock Lode of Results
During the Second World War, Winston Churchill had a framed... Read More
The Flexible Leadership Workshop
The Leadership ChallengeLeaders in today's society are faced with an... Read More
Leadership |