So what is our potential? What does it look like and how do we recognise it? Does everyone have potential and if we all do, what is required to realise it?
For many of us, the first time the word “potential” is applied to us is in a school report – generally advising our parents that we are not working to our fullest potential or not reaching our potential. As we grow older this morphs into planning and goal setting and reaching outcomes which move us closer every day to realising our potential.
Potential is often defined as unrealised ability, as latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness. We all have potential. It is a gift and it is up to each of us, with the support of our loved ones (but largely on our own) to recognise, nurture and grow our various potentials as we move through our life.
First things first. In order to succeed at anything, you need to be able to see that you have the potential to reach your goal. While I could reasonably set the goal of becoming a world class tennis player, it is probably way too late for me as it is a long time since I picked up a racquet and I would need to work for many years to achieve the required skill levels. This means that success with this goal is very unlikely. There is little or no potential there to be realised.
However, if I am passionate about fresh food and have a real talent for combining interesting textures and flavours, and if to me, success would mean owning and cooking in my own beachside café and gaining national recognition, I have the potential to learn more, achieve that success and realise my potential.
Both these goals would take me outside my existing comfort zone just as realising your fullest potential should. You want it to be challenging and to be stretching and testing you to be all that you can be. The difference between achieving the goal of becoming a world class tennis player and a nationally recognised cook comes down to whether or not the goal or dream is realistic for me at this point in time. One goal is and the other is not. At an earlier point in my lifetime this could well have been reversed although given my ongoing abysmal tennis skill level and win/lose ratio, I am not so sure about that. I could also reasonably have expected to achieve both goals had I started my tennis lessons early enough.
Questions that we all need to consider as we research and develop specific, measureable, achievable, relevant and timely goals that will move us towards realising our full potential are:
- Do you have an existing skill level or talent in this area? Do others see this talent in you?
- Given your current age and circumstances, do you have time and will you be physically able to reach your goal?
- What resources, particularly time and financial, can you allocate to realising your potential?
- Are you able to fully commit to doing something every single day that will move you towards this goal?
- Can you truly see that you have the potential to achieve this goal? Do you believe that you can achieve it?
While I have no doubt that you can get this process started yourself, a coach will assist you to set 12 month goals, chunking them down to 3 month targets and developing daily, weekly and monthly measurable actions. Your coach will also keep you accountable on your journey to realising your potential, celebrating with you every step of the way.
All Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) players can stop shaking in their boots – I will be realising my fullest potential in other areas and leaving tennis to those who know what they are doing.
Contact me now for a complimentary 30 minute coaching session to see if we fit.
Beth Berghan is an international coach who works with entrepreneurs, business owners, executives and anyone in transition to develop and implement communication and time management strategies designed to maintain work/life harmony. She will be utilising her potential to take over the world one country at a time and wondering whether she needs a bike licence to do this.