Know your hidden potential

“Consider each one of you as Hanuman” hearing this we looked at our back to reconfirm that we don’t look like one at least.  “I am Sri Rama”. The next sentence followed. These words were told by our chief executive (CE) during one meeting. The meeting was to discuss as how to face the quality process assessment by an external agency. All of us in that meeting had undergone training and briefing on how the assessment would be done. We were unanimously against having such an assessment. “Nothing is in place as far as processes are concerned, we can’t think of having an assessment at least for another 6 months” that is what all of us had to say to the CE. After seeing our reactions, CE had to say those two sentences. And he continued. “Hanuman did not know his true potential that he could jump, cross the ocean  and reach Lanka. Rama had to tell him that he could and he did. So I am telling you, you can face it, you are good to go, we will be assessed at a fairly high level”.

The mood of the entire group got changed in a split second. All of us were trying to explore those good things in our projects! And yes, we did well. Level 3 in that 5 point scale, initially we had thought we would not even cross level 1.

Millions of people in India did not think they had the potential to fight against the British to get freedom. Our leaders of freedom struggle demonstrated, instilled confidence in people.

People say an elephant is big but it does not know it. True. At least in case of those tamed ones which are brought in our festivals, processions. Have you seen those mahouts?  They are so skinny and lean people, one push from you or me- need not be by elephant per se-  is good enough for them to collapse. Or is it just an illusion as any human being of any size will look like such in the presence of that huge fellow? Whatever be the case, these mahouts with that small frame of body are able to manage elephants, make them do all the work. But you never ever attempt to go near that elephant to tell him that he has much more potential than he thinks. You would realize his true potential even before you try to open your mouth!

So how do you come to know your hidden potential? Sadly there is no easy way. Keep your ears open while other people talk about you. Look for that catchy word “potential” and see whether they are telling one thing good about you in those 15 items that need improvement.

If I look back that assessment exercise, it was not only because we did not know our true potential. Partially it is because of our own fabricated imagination of high expectations from the agency. They were clear upfront that they were not interested in our grey areas, they were more interested in our strength areas. Their philosophy was if one can be good in one area, then there is every reason to believe that the goodness can be replicated elsewhere. We chose to ignore that philosophy, we were overly worried on our “have nots”.

Does it not happen quite often? We tend to raise expectation much higher unilaterally. The other party would have never dreamt of such high expectations. For example, if I were asked to deliver a  key note address at my wife’s school annual function( I have high hopes !!!) my first reaction would be “no, I can’t”. I would start comparing me with Obama addressing school kids in East Africa!  I need to interact with the students, wave my hands once in a while, need to have a smiling, pleasing face et al. From school’s perspective it could be another ritual, which has been followed for the last 25 years. The speaker can stand behind the podium so that his trembling feet will not be visible to the audience. The speaker can read out from a written speech on any topic, no need to have eye contact to anybody. The speech can just be for 5 or 10 minutes so that they can proceed with more important stuff like prize distribution and performances by students. Actually if I had understood their expectations properly, I would have readily agreed as it would be one step towards preparing for my next speech with more stable feet on the ground!

But setting expectation low by self is equally bad.

Yes, I had represented my Lower Primary school in district level school athletic meet ! (Govt Lower Primary School, Mannar – village in Kottayam District)  That too for 100 metres sprints. My friend came first and me second in our school selection, so both of us got selected to represent at district level. As such we did not have any school ground, our practice was in that barren paddy filed waiting for next monsoons. As the day came closer, we intensified our practice, from 15 minutes to 30 minutes per day! I started eating one additional dosa at home everyday ! As I stood in the start line I realized that all others are at least 1 foot taller than me, much heavier and muscular. Where is the comparison between my dosa/sambar Vs their Chicken/Mutton Biriyanis ? I didn’t bother to do those warm ups which they did, I wouldn't have been able to run at all if I had attempted that. As the whistle blew, I saw that rope held tightly at the finishing line by two guys, eagerly waiting to know who would come first. That’s the first and last time I saw that rope. By the time I reached the finish line, rope had vanished, people came 4^th place and below vanished, the celebration by people who secured 1,2,3 spots just got over !

Do believe that people on the other side have realistic expectations from you. Do believe that you have potential in so many areas which you haven’t explored or you are not even aware of.