On Potential

To be “potential” means to be capable of use, action, and effectiveness. At its root is another adjective,“ potent ”, that suggests power, strength, cogency, and force. Yet, when Human Resources designates someone to be of “high potential”, the thought moves forward to future talent pipeline possibility, and of course, either future success or downsizing. But this either/or of success or failure is not what potential is about. Consider another form of the word: potentate. A potentate is a mighty ruler or monarch. Sure, wars and political destabilization might shake the potentate’s power-base, but the potency remains. If potential is high, its capability of use, action, and effectiveness is high. Period.

Where then, does genuine latent creative strength go? My clinical and coaching experiences suggest that it stays put. If anything “goes”, it is the expense account, bonus, salary and perqs: another words, the trappings of support that not only signal material security, but just as fundamentally tell us that our contributory efforts have value. Losing either (or both) of these necessary types of supports may, for a time, subvert our sense of competence. This requires the working-out of grief – not the writing down of potential!!!

Loss of economic security and all that it means--- whether from a job or sudden asset deflation, may take your breath away. A semi-retired therapist in Florida, commenting on retiree stock market losses said it brilliantly, “People are grieving…there was a death. Their money died.” (Barbara Goldsmith, quoted in “The Golden Years, Tarnished", by C. Krauss, New York Times, 11.13.08).

Loss of relationship may also erode self-confidence and moxie. And it comes in many forms: for example, senior colleagues may leave, and with them, the knowledge of our strengths, unknown and possibly undervalued by incoming leaders. Persistence alone may feel insufficient to replace what has been lost. Rather, beyond the efforts necessary to cement new relationships, extreme efforts in scouting out new markets and opportunities may become necessary. These may feel impossible when one feels blindsided by grief.

Grief itself must be conquered. Its action may blur capability; but potential remains. One of the earliest written documents in world literature, the Gilgamesh Epic- was about the working through of loss: and the triumphant recovery of the hero’s latent capabilities. He goes forward from overcoming loss (his central life challenge: in late midlife, by the way….) to become a renowned leader again. The challenge is in overcoming the obstacles to a potential which does not disappear.