SBF Austin

Having “high potential” does not mean performing at maximum capability. While many believe they are doing all they can, a huge number of professionals are frustrated because they and their teams are coming up short of expectations. Some have become paralyzed from taking risks by the fear of failure, while others are not sure what is holding them back. Thom Singer has surveyed hundreds of people and the feedback is stunning that the majority of people are confident they should be having greater success in their career.

Companies in all sectors have employees who have reached a plateau or have become stuck in the “high middle”. There is a very real gap between potential and results, and Thom wants to show everyone paths to doing more at any stage of their career.

Beyond excuses and finger-pointing, this interactive presentation gets to the heart of how people view their potential and ways to accomplish more while enjoying their work. For decades companies have been identifying and training their “high potential” employees, but these individuals are not always growing into the organization’s future leaders. There is a clear paradox around potential.

The “future of work” is about more than telecommuting and stand up desks. Finding ways to embrace passion, plans and the people around you is key to long term success. Those who are focused on goal setting, realistic assessments, teamwork, successful human engagement, cross-selling, and other skills will help their company reach the highest potential and be more fulfilled in their jobs.

This gap is true for individuals and organizations. It is common to see a startup or established company with high levels of potential, only to later witness it being shut down. While it is not possible to achieve full potential (as once you get there, new opportunities will appear that create more opportunity), the constant struggle to bridge the gap will not happen by accident. Nobody should be comfortable relying on luck as the answer to their future.