I have been told I have “great potential” a number of times. I have just as often wondered what on earth they could mean by that.
A few years go I was in a business which was about to be bought out. A team of HR consultants were employed to speak to the existing staff and I had an interview, within 5 mins the interviewer wrote HiPo on the top right of the script.
I only realised later that he was not commenting on my blood sugar level but more that in his opinion I had High Potential. That was an interesting point he made, I certainly didn’t think I had, not in their business, and moved to a more demanding role in a different company before the takeover completed.
Since then I have been working in a business which grades its teams on performance in relation to each other. In the last 7 years I have been a low performer, high performer and an inbetweener. None of which has actually helped me to a) develop my skills, or b) gain any insight into areas I need to develop further
In fact I have been baffled by the process, being told 2 months before the performance rating is due ” this is what we think you are”, followed by one of “pull your socks up” or a nod and a wink (almost), has me wondering why bother? the corporate engines’ mind is already made up.
I have analysed and either accepted my faults or stretched myself and continued to develop with out of school activities however something is beginning to really bug me.
We can’t all be leaders. So where are the careers/development/lean in books for those who follow?

Now we can debate what Leader means as a term. I can hear the Coaches among you shouting “But Sally we are all Leaders”, yes I get that in theory. But in practice there is only 1 boss. I can use my skills to influence across hierarchies. But I am unlikely to now make it to CEO.
And that is because I don’t want to be CEO. I never have. Does that mean I should remove myself from the fast track?
If I am to believe all the development books, coaching, corporate gung ho attitude then I am only fit for the scrap heap. My lack of desire to be the ultimate boss means I am not driven enough to succeed in any small part of the organisation. Utter claptrap.

There are more people in the world who will not be the no.1 at the top of the tree than those who will. And being top of the tree you need to have good followers, isn’t it often stated that Entrepeneurs don’t need to know everything, they just need to know someone who does.

So let’s start a revolution, for all of those who are nearly theres. All of those with High Potential who want to do well – stretch themselves and develop to the nth degree. Without becoming a psychopath who only beats up on others to get what they want.

Are you with me?