Maximizing Your Potential by Definition

Someone once pointed out to me that in many of my presentations focusing on my theme, Maximizing Your Potential, I did not define potential specifically. Allow me to do so now.

Whenever I refer to potential and how to make the best of it, I'm referring to the God-given abilities, skills, and talents we have. Specifically, our skills fall into three categories, and only three. There are those we use with people, those we use with things, and those we use with information.

A. Borrowing from Mr. Richard Nelson Bolles' book, What Color Is Your Parachute?, here are 13 basic skills we use with people:

· Speaking or listening to others so as to convey or receive information. (Communicating)

· Influencing others by our words or actions. (Persuading)

· Showing sensitivity to the feelings of others. (Sensing)

· Favoring the implicit or explicit needs of others. (Serving)

· Caring for others by using specified techniques or approaches to improve their physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual problem. (Treating)

· Giving expert advice or recommendations based on our own area of expertise. (Advising)

· Paying attention to instructions and then carrying out the prescribed action. (Taking instructions)

· Monitoring behavior and coordinating it in order to achieve organizational objectives. (Managing/Supervising)

· Recognizing and utilizing the skills of others. (Leading)

· Arriving at an individual or jointly agreed-upon decision usually through discussion and compromise. (Negotiating/deciding)

· Exhibiting showmanship for fun, laughter, or entertainment. (Entertaining/Amusing)

· Dealing with the problems of others in the context of their total self while helping them to identify and resolve them through self-directed action. (Counseling)

· Giving new information or ideas to people through lecture, demonstration, or practice. (Training)

B. When it comes to dealing with information, we use our skills 15 different ways. Here they are:

We investigate, detect, compile, and classify information by means of research. (Researching)

· We examine two or more people or objects in order to learn about and react to their similarities and dissimilarities. (Comparing)

· We study the behavior of people, animals, or things, or the details of a particular phenomenon or place. (Observing)

· We perceive and define cause-and-effect relations. (Analyzing)

· We deal with numbers in performing simple or complex arithmetic. (Computing)

· We give a definite structure and working order to things. (Organizing)

· We inspect, diagnose, test, and evaluate information, people, or things. (Evaluating)

· We take what others have developed and apply it to new situations often in a new form. (Improving/adapting)

· We transform apparently unrelated things or ideas by forming them into a new cohesive whole. (Creating)

· We fashion or shape things. (Designing)

· We conceive shapes or sounds by perceiving their patterns and structures and we enable others to see them, too. (Visualizing)

· We record, memorize, or reproduce on paper or in the mind. (Copying, Storing, Retrieving)

· We determine the sequence of tasks after reviewing pertinent data or requirements. (Planning, Developing)

· We systematically accomplish tasks in a manner that causes objectives to be attained or surpassed. (Achieving)

· We speed up the accomplishment of a task or series of tasks so as to reach an organizational objective on or ahead of time. (Expediting)

C. Finally, let's look at the skills we use with things. We do so by:

· using our body as an instrument of accomplishment. (Being athletic)

· using our hands or body to identify or move an object. (Handling)

· manipulating hand tools. (Using Tools)

· monitoring, adjusting, and servicing automatic machines. (Minding Machines)

· performing some or all operations upon an office, shop, or other machine or equipment. (Operating Machine or Equipment)

· performing some or all operations upon a vehicle. (Operating a Vehicle)

· putting materials into or taking them out of machines. (Feeding, Emptying Machines)

· using earth as an instrument of accomplishment. (Working with Earth and Nature)

· preparing, building, installing, and displaying machinery or equipment. (Setting Up Displays, Machinery, or Equipment)

· attaining precise set of limits, tolerance, or standards. (Precision Working)

· putting an object back into good working condition or similar to its original condition. (Preparing)

I encourage you to inventory the skills that have brought you success and satisfaction. Then look for creative ways to emphasize them. When you do, you'll be maximizing your potential.

Remember: When you maximize your potential, everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.

© Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW

PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in ezines, newsletters, and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Although advance permission is not required, please notify us at eagibbs@ureach.com when you use this article.

Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts seminars, lectures, and writes articles on his theme: ... helping you maximize your potential. He offers management, marketing, and parenting resources at http://www.MaximizingYourPotential.blogspot.c om

---

Motivation: The Power of Celebration

Cherish Enthusiasm Live with passion Excitement Belief Rejoice Attitude and... Read More

Right Action & Right Effort: The Keys to Martial Arts Mastery, Keys 3 &4

In the philosophical teachings that form the base for our... Read More

Choosing Your Vision

There is a new television show, called Blind Justice that... Read More

Make It Happen Now!

Most people think that when they have chosen a path... Read More

Break And Move Beyond The Length Of The Chains

"Never let fear, procrastination or the longing for approval from... Read More

The ONE Question Winners ALWAYS Ask?.

Over the past several years I have experienced my fair... Read More

Dismantle Self Imposed Limits

Round about us is an invisible box that we have... Read More

Commitment vs.Trying - Is Trying Lying?

Today I heard the saying "Trying is lying!"It made me... Read More

Its Only Too Late If You Dont Start Living Now

Remember when summer seemed to last forever? My mother use... Read More

Time Management - Finding Some Personal Time

Personal time or relax time is often why people want... Read More

Put Some Fire in Your Desire

One of the keys to success is staying motivated because... Read More

7 Hot Tips for Self Improvement Part 1

Have you ever imagined that life could be a lot... Read More

Dont Be Afraid To Build The Dream

Don't be afraid to build the dream - Attempting to... Read More

Its a Habit

Do you sometimes have the feeling that you're running into... Read More

Beginnings Arent As Complicated As They Seem

Beginnings are seldom as complicated as they seem. You know... Read More

7 Reasons To Stop Procrastinating Today

Procrastination is a delay tactic that has the ability to... Read More

Change Your Life For The Better!

Are you still hoping and waiting for someone somewhere to... Read More

Keeping Your Eyes Wide Open: A Letter to a Grandson

One day, a young man was cleaning out his late... Read More

What Is The Value In Wanting To Accomplish Something?

When I listen to people tell me about some of... Read More

Get Up and Do!

The motivation to change my oil came the other day... Read More

Playing With Mindfulness: Sneaking In The Back Door

I often meet people who say things like, "I've been... Read More

Why Bother About Your Life?

Have you failed to create the life you want, because... Read More

Raising The Bar

One of the most popular events in the Olympics is... Read More

Testy Horses and the Art of Speed Waiting

"What are you waiting for?" said Nelson, looking at me... Read More

Why Do We Need Our Addictions?

If money is considered to be the root of all... Read More

The Biggest Mistake Youve Made About Manifesting

What is the biggest mistake you have made about manifesting... Read More

Can You Can Can? What You Can Do If You Really Go For It

One hundred years ago the laundry girls of Montmartre invented... Read More

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

Lately, I've become super sensitive to the amount of excuses... Read More

Dont Let Failure Go To Your Head

I watched as an 8-year-old All-Star slid dramatically into second... Read More

What Gets Your Ass Out Of Bed?

Beep. Beep. Beep. 5:51 am. The alarm is once again... Read More

Just Do It!

If you run a business like I do, you probably... Read More

Seven Habits Of Ineffective People

For maximum effectiveness in life, love or business, it helps... Read More

Discover The Upside of Anger

Most of us are prone to anger! As we grow... Read More