Have you said or heard these words? How do they make you feel? Are you validated, feel encouraged and become more invested in what you are working hard to achieve?
Do these words make you feel overwhelmed? Do they make you question what you are doing? Are your thoughts shifted to thinking I am not good enough and I can never reach my goal?
POTENTIAL
The experiences with the word potential will determine the emotions it brings.
“You show great potential, and we wish you continued success. However, we have selected another candidate for the position.”
“Yesterday, you showed us great potential in handling the team meeting; we look forward to your continued growth!”
Experiencing these statements utilizing the word potential, you may experience different emotions as you leave the conversations. It also depends on the relationship of the individuals making the statements. Many factors impact the way people “feel” after discussions with leaders and colleagues.
What is my Potential?
To truly know your potential, you have to know where you want to go! Like Alice in Wonderland, you really can’t trust to ask someone else which direction to go. Turning to yourself and understanding who you are, what you want to do, and who you want to become are all questions you can answer.
Follow these steps to find your Potential:
- Listen to yourself-decide what you want to be and where you want to go.
- Set goals-decide on the destination you want to try and work towards that goal first. Sometimes our first choice does not work out. It is perfectly fine to keep exploring.
- Mindset-establish a growth mindset to allow yourself to grow in the areas you want to explore. People can plant seeds in our minds of things they say we are good at, but maybe we do not enjoy doing.
- Establish Checkpoints-Provide yourself a timeline to check in on “where” you are with your goals, exploring your “what,” “why,” and “how” you plan to get there.
- Acceptance-Along the journey of potential, acceptance of failures will keep you moving forward.
- Celebration-Along with failures, success is celebrated as you move forward.
- Review, Reflect, and Revise-The R’s when starting a change process. Review the “what,” Reflect on the “how,” and Revise anything needed to continue to move forward. Add one more R-Rest to help keep your mind strong!
- Be disciplined- Stay focused on your plan and goals.
- Time-management-Be mindful of your time and follow your plan.
- Big Picture-Remember “Think with the end in mind”-Covey
Finding Potential with Authenticity
On your journey in knowing “You have Potential,” realize it is not at the cost of being someone you are not. My potential is being the best representation of who I am, in the place where I can showcase it the best! It is a marathon and not a sprint. It takes time, hard work, self-awareness, learning and failure.
The most important lesson I have learned in the journey to find potential is when you improve one area, other areas can improve! You can discover new skills, improve other skills and learn so much more! You may not see the rewards today, but with perseverance you will!
My career in education grew over the years, changed in positions and then came to a conclusion in retirement. I had to pivot to find a different way to bring value to others. “Every interaction you have is an opportunity to influence and encourage a valuable human being.”-Becky Robinson, Reach: Create the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause pg. 124.
Pick Me
Like in school, when picking people to join your team to play, everyone calls out, “pick me.” I am working my way to building my connections to bring more value to others and move my book forward. It all takes time to grow! Do not give up; keep growing, bring value to others and build a solid network to support your journey! Many call out to “pick me,” but do not be discouraged when they do not call on you! Soon it will be your turn to be picked and be ready to bring all you have to offer to those who say, “I pick you!” You have reached your full potential!