Coinbase

Wes Griffith

As leaders, we all strive to facilitate assignment alchemy. That moment when pairing a great employee with a key assignment results in an outsized impact on the business.

Most companies strive to identify and develop high-potential individuals who possess the right attributes to drive the organization forward. As managers and human resources leaders, our ability to spot these employees can make a significant contribution to your company's success, thus realizing the alchemy. In this article, we will delve into three attributes that can serve as leading indicators of an employee's potential: 1) The ability to create focus from ambiguity, 2) persevere through adversity, and 3) self-reflect.

What are high-potential employees?

There are many definitions of a high-potential employee, and nearly every company requires specific hard skills. Rather than sort through all those, let's establish a shared definition of soft skills. High-potential employees are continuous learners seeking a broader perspective to enhance their holistic thinking. They can succeed despite the environment, often despite their manager. This enables them to pivot across multiple functions of a business, like technical and non-technical. As a result, they identify the inputs necessary to achieve intended outcomes and deliver them.

How can high-potential employees be identified early in their careers?

It’s easy to spot a high-performing employee who has a track record of success and quantifiable impact on the business. But as leaders, our job is to identify that potential early and aid the employee in realizing high performance. Here are some leading indicators-

1. The Ability To Handle Ambiguity and Create Focus

Most businesses, especially those driving innovation or experiencing high growth, encounter constant change. When ambiguity is prevalent, employees who thrive and create clarity are invaluable assets to any organization. The ability to navigate through complex situations, adapt quickly, and find simplicity amidst chaos demonstrates exceptional potential.

"Employees who possess the ability to self-reflect and take action from the reflection exhibit an eagerness to improve continuously."

One way to identify this attribute is by observing how employees can filter out the trivial many and identify the important few tasks. In junior employees, this may be present as the ability to distill a complex status update into key points. As careers mature, it can manifest as finding a path forward when others see mostly obstacles. Regardless of tenure, these employees are likely to be calm and composed when encountering complex situations or when a problem is unknown.

To foster and develop this attribute, provide high-potential employees with what may initially feel like excessive autonomy and empowerment. You may be surprised how quickly they can begin managing the environment and broadening their comfort zones.

2. Perseverance: The Drive to Overcome Adversity

Perseverance is a self-developed attribute of an employee with potential. Those who possess this attribute display a relentless determination to achieve goals, even in the face of setbacks and challenges. They internalize that audacious goals are required to deliver unprecedented results. Not only is this resilience the source of strong internal motivation that propels high-potential individuals forward, but it also inspires others, motivating those around them.

Look for signs of perseverance in employees during difficult times or when working on long-term projects. Do they stay committed and motivated despite encountering hurdles? Do they continue to see that path through obstacles with the same solutions based demeanor they demonstrated at the onset?

While perseverance can be strengthened through repeatedly navigating challenging scenarios, this is really a proficiency that is inherent in high-potential employees. Truly high-potential employees have the tolerances and internal abilities to cope with adversity with little to no need for support.

3. Self-Reflection: The Path to Continuous Growth

Ray Dalio argues in his book "Principles" that Pain + Reflection = Progress. I will argue that reflection is the hallmark attribute of a high-potential employee. The proficiency to face ambiguity and adversity and then reflect against those conditions in a way that allows the person to both manage themselves and influence the conditions they are facing is what really sets them apart from the group.

Employees who possess the ability to self-reflect and take action from the reflection exhibit an eagerness to improve continuously. Look for individuals who take ownership of their mistakes and proactively seek solutions to rectify them. This indicates a high level of accountability and a commitment to learning from experiences, making them valuable assets to your organization.

Encourage self-reflection in your employees by setting aside time for introspection and encouraging open discussions about personal growth. Those who are willing to question their assumptions and seek feedback from peers and mentors demonstrate a growth mindset that can lead to remarkable achievements.

Conclusion

Identifying potential in employees is an ongoing and essential process for managers and human resources leaders in medium and large companies. By recognizing the attributes of simplifying through ambiguity, perseverance through adversity, and self-reflecting through it all, you can identify those stand-out employees able to deliver desired results in unpredictable ways.