Unleashing the Genius in Your Workforce

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The inability to exploit their abilities is one of the key reasons that more women are leaving their companies and starting their own businesses.

I'm also noticing that my Generation Y clients have very different expectations from Corporate America than their baby boomer predecessors. They have an immediate desire to unleash their power and potential. During a recent 60 Minutes segment, a Generation Y interviewee commented, "We're not going to settle. Because we saw our parents settle." Younger generations are impatient and won't wait years to achieve what it took baby boomers to accomplish. For them, unleashing genius is not optional: It's essential.

As you work with companies and their employees to unleash genius, have you run into any significant challenges, or is it all smooth sailing?

The short answer is that it takes work. Talent is a given. Everybody needs it to get in the door. Unleashing genius takes more time and effort and is a messy process. It's a process of trial and error, and success doesn't happen overnight. It really requires companies to be committed to figuring out what really drives and motivates their employees and to be patient with the process of self-discovery. Because unleashing employee potential doesn't follow a linear path.

You must also provide an open and trusting environment that embraces creativity, flexibility, and self-expression. And finally, you've got to be willing to strike a balance between performance and permitting employees to learn from mistakes. Genius is the byproduct of continuous learning and growth and failure is part of learning. So the key advice that I would give companies is to be clear about the realities before taking the plunge. But if they are committed and stay the course for the long haul, the rewards of better employee engagement, improved performance and results, and retaining top employees will be well worth it.

Stephanie Chick can be reached at Stephanie@DeliverThePackage.com.

Readers: What percent of your potential is being realized at work? What can your company do to increase this number? Your reflections, comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Goldsmith's new book, What Got You Here Won't Get You There, was recently listed as America's best-selling business book in The Wall Street Journal. He can be reached at Marshall@MarshallGoldsmith.com, and he provides his articles and videos online at MarshallGoldsmithLibrary.com.