Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
George,
good question.
Everyone should ask it of themselves.
For me, it is wisdom, the ability to handle all situations in life.
It is being excellent in everything we do. Setting our own expectations while listening and observing others not only to learn and extend our perception but also to bind with them.
Thomas Saving Changes...
Luis BrancoCEO| Business Insight, Consultores de Gestão, LdªCarcavelos, Lisboa, Portugal
Dear George
The theme that brought to our reflection and debate is very interesting.
Thanks for sharing and for your questions.
I think (from what I have observed) that people have a great capacity to excel. They are often surprised by its enormous potential.
After talking to some of these people I was convinced that this is born from within each one of us. Saving Changes...
Hi George,
As you say, it should be a currently unrealized ability. I am of the opinion that we won't know that until we are thrown into the situation.
Based on the situation, so we may go above & beyond others' expectations for our role. In some cases, we may go below their expectations as well. It all really depends on the problem we are in that we as PMs ought to solve. Saving Changes...
George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
Here’s my interpretation of the responses so far:
- Thomas: To reach our potential, one needs to obtain wisdom by pursuing knowledge and excellence and then bind with others to do the same.
- Luis: Reaching our potential is an innate quality; one needs only to pursue it.
- Kiron: Reaching our potential is a never-ending journey that finds enrichment when one endeavor’s to take on challenging initiatives outside their comfort zone.
- Maria: There are no specific strategies that enable one to reach their potential. Instead, it’s something that one must determine themselves to do in the context of a given situation.
There is no right or wrong answer, and as you can see through my likely poor interpretation, the responses are relatively broad in their range. This is not a surprise and what we would expect on PMC across cultures, experience levels, backgrounds, and the like.
So too, it seems (at times), is the interpretation of our profession. I’m not saying that our bodies of knowledge lack definition, but the battle always seems to be afoot for its meaning in the context of x, y, and z. In other words, to reach our potential in project management implies that we have an agreed-upon definition of what we are striving to achieve – correct (a challenge-based thought)?
I firmly believe that we should focus on reaching our potential, but in looking at questions raised over time, I wonder if there are folks who struggle in their clarity of what they are “shooting for” when it comes to this question - reaching our potential.” Saving Changes...
Dear George,
If you believe in continuous improvement to reach excellence by delivering full of value to your clients and organization, reaching your maximum potential will never happen, because always will be something new to learn. Now more than ever, context is framed within a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) environment. Because of that, people with greater reason talk about Lean, Agile, and hybrid approaches base-drive on delivering value, in a context each day more uncertain, where needs change continually.
The innovation movement around the world has created improvements in all domains. Approaches as Lean, startup, and a boom in R&D have permitted improvement in processes, technologies, practices, and decision-making processes. Thus, exchanging of information and knowledge in real-time demanded constants adjustments in the way how people work. Because of that, the knowledge, and skills to do something never reach their peak. Instead, it requires people frequently updated, acquiring experience, and learning about new methodologies and tendencies to gain valuable insights to be more efficient in our roles or deliverables.
Now how to know if you deliver value? When you become a strategic asset for your clients and organizations because you design solutions that will cover theirs needs in an anticipated manner.
...
1 reply by George Freeman
Sep 07, 2021 11:20 AM
George Freeman
...
Hi Elena,
I agree with what you are saying when you interpret “reaching our potential” as the acquisition of an ability that represents reaching your peak. However, the interpretation I provided is the acquisition of “a currently unrealized ability.” So, I believe we are in agreement, that is, reaching your potential is a continual process, as once you obtain an ability you did not have before, there’s another one or thousand waiting for your pursuit.
- keep your eyes open for the opportunities to grow and advance
- be prepared to take action when the opportunities are presented
- be bold enough to take action when the opportunities are presented
None of us really knows what our true career potential is, and we're often wrong (sometimes overstated, sometimes understated). I think we hurt ourselves more when we devalue ourselves than when we over-value ourselves and our potential, but as mentioned in an earlier response, it's a journey. Saving Changes...
George FreemanThought Leader | Author | Architect| Florida, United States
Sep 07, 2021 10:13 AM
Replying to Elena Sandoval
...
Dear George,
If you believe in continuous improvement to reach excellence by delivering full of value to your clients and organization, reaching your maximum potential will never happen, because always will be something new to learn. Now more than ever, context is framed within a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) environment. Because of that, people with greater reason talk about Lean, Agile, and hybrid approaches base-drive on delivering value, in a context each day more uncertain, where needs change continually.
The innovation movement around the world has created improvements in all domains. Approaches as Lean, startup, and a boom in R&D have permitted improvement in processes, technologies, practices, and decision-making processes. Thus, exchanging of information and knowledge in real-time demanded constants adjustments in the way how people work. Because of that, the knowledge, and skills to do something never reach their peak. Instead, it requires people frequently updated, acquiring experience, and learning about new methodologies and tendencies to gain valuable insights to be more efficient in our roles or deliverables.
Now how to know if you deliver value? When you become a strategic asset for your clients and organizations because you design solutions that will cover theirs needs in an anticipated manner.
Hi Elena,
I agree with what you are saying when you interpret “reaching our potential” as the acquisition of an ability that represents reaching your peak. However, the interpretation I provided is the acquisition of “a currently unrealized ability.” So, I believe we are in agreement, that is, reaching your potential is a continual process, as once you obtain an ability you did not have before, there’s another one or thousand waiting for your pursuit. Saving Changes...
Thomas WalentaGlobal Project Economy ExpertHackenheim, Germany
Hi George
agree what has been said: life is a journey, not a destination. So, from cradle to grave, being alive means continuous change.
If it is valued as improvement or decline is a matter of our own perspective. Be happy or depressed.
BTW thinking of having a career is predictive planning at its core. You think knowledge, reputation (certification) can be piled up for the goal of your life. Nope.
My thesis is: The only worthwhile goal is building wisdom, defined as the ability to handle situations. And wisdom is based on more than knowledge, it includes having a range of perspectives, empathy, emotional balance, humility etc..
Thomas
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1 reply by George Freeman
Sep 07, 2021 11:43 AM
George Freeman
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A thesis worthy of proclamation to the masses. What would a society, or to make it easier, a profession look like that sought such a worthwhile goal? Thank you Thomas!
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