Closing the Gap Between Potential and Performance

The gap between potential and performance exists for everyone. Some significantly close this gap - those are people we often look up to and admire. Others seem to have gaps that are so large that we see tragedy in the life stories. However wide the gaps, we all have them. If we can understand the barriers that stand in the way of us closing the gap, we can consciously work to remove or reduce the impact of those barriers.

There are three major types of barriers that cause this gap between our massive potential and the performance we exhibit. These barriers can apply in any part of our life for any performance outcome we would like to achieve. Once we can identify these barriers, we can take steps to remove or overcome them.

The barriers fall into three categories: mental interference, skill development, and habits.

Mental Interference

Simply stated, mental interference occurs when internal distractions disrupt our ability to focus or perform tasks or impedes us from doing the tasks at all. Here are four specific and related forms of mental interference that keep us from closing the gap between our potential and performance:

• Self-belief. Perhaps this one is easier to see in others. You see someone you know can achieve more or at a higher level, yet their belief in themselves prevents them from making that improvement. We see our beliefs as facts, and they are powerful internal guides to what we believe is possible for ourselves. When we believe our potential is limited, that will be our personal fact unless and until that belief can be altered.
• Confidence. Confidence begins with external validation. When we try and have even a little success, get positive results, or acknowledgement, our confidence grows. (Here I’ve written about building your confidence.) Confidence then requires us to start and try – if our self-belief doesn’t even allow for the small step of trying, confidence won’t grow. But confidence can begin to change self-belief in a positive, potential-realizing direction.
• Attitude. Some might say our attitude isn’t that important or is fleeting in its importance. But I believe deep down everyone knows that when their attitude is negative, it can cause them to stop trying, or avoid the chance to do something hard, but important.
• Self-talk. Self-talk is tied to all three of the other factors, and our self-talk itself is often the source of the mental interference that stops us, cautions us, or holds us back from moving towards our potential.

All these factors are connected to our mindset – which is a powerful compass that points us to our future. If that mindset is pointed in the direction of what is possible for us (our potential), the likelihood of improved performance is high. If our mindset doesn’t match that direction – the gap between our potential and performance may remain far greater than necessary or desired.

Skill Development

As I have just outlined, skills are not the full picture of performance, yet greater skills are needed to achieve greater performance. If you want to close the gap between your potential and your performance, you must know what skills are needed and have ways to acquire those skills. Since this is the focus area of most discussion of “reaching our potential”, I don’t need to say as much about that here, except to remind you that there are more ways than ever to find support and resources to understand and gain the skills you might want and need.

Habits

Removing mental interference and having the skills you need still isn’t enough. If you don’t apply and practice those skills, you will continue to block your ability to reach your potential. Thankfully, much has been learned in the last 20 years about the power of habits, and how to develop and adapt them to meet your needs and goals. Spending time understanding those principles is critical to your success. Here are three specific keys to help you close the gaps we are talking about here:

• Aligned goals. Knowing what you want to achieve – what skills matter and why they are important to you – is the starting point to creating habits that support your progress.
• Conscious habits. Once you have clear goals, determine what habits will be required for you to translate skills into new behaviors. You will need to change some habits and add others if you want to achieve the goals you desire.
• Continued practice. Practice matters. The habits you create or adapt should be connected to giving you time and opportunity to practice. When you practice, it will reinforce building your confidence, which begins to reduce all of the mental inference factors and creates an upward spiral of greater success. (Read more about this here.)

All three barriers are important and all are real. For you to close the gaps between your potential and performance, you must consider each carefully. When you understand and address them, you take an important step to moving your actual performance, behaviors, and results closer to what you are capable of. As you do this for yourself, you will become more adept and empathetic in helping others do the same.