While the exact percentages can vary depending on the context, this tendency consistently manifests itself in a wide range of areas including intelligence, possession of desirable personality traits, and on-the-job performance. It is challenging to determine if we are truly someone who should be recognized as being high-potential because of this fact, as well as the fact that many companies still opt not to disclose information about their selection process for high-potential employees.
High Potential: A Discussion With Dr. Robert Hogan
Why is recognizing high-potential employees important?
Knowing which employees you can entrust with crucial tasks and projects will help you identify those who can assist you in achieving your workplace objectives. Recognizing which employees have the capacity to become managers or supervisors, who can guide their subordinates toward achieving the larger company goals, is also beneficial. Promoting talented staff members can boost revenue, morale, and help your business expand. Placing them in leadership positions can also allow them to mentor new hires and serve as an example for other staff members.
What does high potential mean in the workplace?
An employee with high potential in the workplace is one who possesses skills that go beyond those required by their position. These are workers who regularly finish tasks earlier than expected, complete them thoroughly, or consistently display the ability to produce work of a higher caliber than that of their peers and coworkers.
High-potential workers frequently seek positions above their current position and typically comprehend the tasks assigned to them without the need for additional explanation. They may even mentor or manage their coworkers in a more managerial manner and exhibit skills for the position that suggest they might be qualified to take on management responsibilities themselves. The majority of the time, they also exhibit zeal and a profound comprehension of the company’s values and culture, incorporating them into their working styles and procedures.
13 characteristics of high-potential individuals
High-potential workers demonstrate both the capacity to perform well and the potential to influence others in a way that promotes the success of the company. There are numerous traits that could make it easier to spot these people at work. You can take into account the 13 qualities listed below when seeking high-potential employees for your business:
1. Need little direction
High-potential workers frequently comprehend their jobs so well that they can complete tasks without much guidance or instruction from managers. In fact, they may be so knowledgeable about the position that other staff members turn to them for guidance or assistance when needed rather than going to a manager who may have other obligations and less time to assist.
2. Talented at their job
High-potential employees often produce high-quality work. They might also finish their work faster than their coworkers, giving them more time to check it for mistakes, make general improvements, and even assist their colleagues in finishing their own work.
3. Perform leadership duties
High-potential workers typically welcome the chance to show leadership when they see it. They frequently assist in making sure that projects and other tasks are completed, taking the time and care necessary to ensure that they are done well.
4. Take initiative
Understanding or even anticipating business needs is a sign of high potential. They frequently carry out unassigned tasks and duties that they are aware someone else must finish in order for the business to succeed. They typically take on the responsibility themselves when they see an opportunity to do something that could be advantageous to the company, even if a manager hasn’t asked them to.
5. Invested in company goals
Company goals often become personal goals for high-potential employees. They see their work as a means of helping the business succeed, and they value the company’s goals highly. They put a lot of effort into ensuring that these goals are met, and they frequently try to go above and beyond them.
6. Work well under pressure
High-potential employees succeed even under pressure, whether it be by meeting deadlines, multitasking, or working on significant projects. Instead, they frequently see working under pressure as a challenge to meet, and some may even perform better under pressure, using it to show that they can complete their tasks in any situation.
7. Have positive relationships
The capacity to forge positive connections with coworkers is a key trait of high-potential employees. High potential individuals typically get along well with their coworkers and recognize the value of good working relationships in fostering a positive workplace.
8. Work well with others
Working as a team, high-potential employees frequently succeed in achieving business objectives. Others may be able to put together a team that maximizes the talents of their coworkers. High-potential workers frequently encourage and assist team members in completing their tasks successfully and supervise projects to make sure they are finished.
9. Highly adaptable
A lot of high-potential workers have a knack for knowing which tactics to use for various tasks and can adjust to them as necessary. They might also be better at making adjustments to ensure they successfully complete their tasks when circumstances change, like a deadline moving up in time.
10. Willing to take risks
Risks are frequently a part of achieving goals, but high-potential employees are aware of when taking a chance is worthwhile given the potential benefit to the business and frequently take it because they are motivated by the goals of the organization. They also understand when it is best for the business to avoid taking a risk.
11. Competitive attitude
Many high-potential employees enjoy being good at their job. Some high-potential employees try to learn from their coworkers’ successes and raise their own performance to keep up with or even surpass it.
12. Ask questions
High-potential employees typically want to improve their work, so they frequently ask a lot of questions to fully comprehend the details. They frequently seek out information about projects and procedures that fall outside of their purview so that they can tailor their work to support the success of those projects and procedures.
13. Helpful to coworkers
High-potential workers are aware that all employees’ contributions must be of a high caliber if the business is to succeed. To ensure this success, they frequently assist others in learning more effective procedures, better understanding their tasks, and how to carry out their tasks quickly and effectively.
FAQ
What is a high potential individual?
Use of personality profiling tests is one of the best ways to evaluate employees for high potential. Employers use these to help identify people who possess the personality traits required for a specific job role and assess their likelihood of succeeding in that role.
What is a high potential candidate?
You are permitted to remain in the UK for at least two years with a High Potential Individual (HPI) visa. You must have received a degree from an accepted university within the previous five years in order to apply.
