Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things

by Adam M. Grant

instead of brainstorming, we’re better off shifting to a process called brainwriting.

initial steps are solo. You start by asking everyone to generate ideas separately.

Next, you pool them and share them anonymously ...

each member evaluates them on...

Only then does the team come together to select and refine the mo...

brainwriting process makes sure that all ideas are brought to the table and all voices are brought into the conversation.

A powerful alternative to a corporate ladder is a lattice.

The goal is to give you access to multiple leaders who are willing and able to help move you forward and lift you up.

Our greatest potential isn’t always hidden inside us—sometimes it sparks between us, and sometimes it comes from outside our team altogether.

When we confuse past performance with future potential, we miss out on people whose achievements have involved overcoming major obstacles.

Peter Principle. It’s the idea that people at work tend to get promoted to their “level of incompetence”—they keep advancing based on their success in previous jobs until they get trapped in a new role that’s beyond their abilities.

talent sets the floor, but character sets the ceiling.

the key indicator of potential isn’t the severity of adversity people encounter—it’s how they react to it.

A powerful alternative is to create real-time work samples: give everyone the same problem to solve in the present.

Instead of relying solely on what people say, you get to observe what they can do—which applicants appreciate.

When we evaluate people, there’s nothing more rewarding than finding a diamond in the rough. Our job isn’t to apply the pressure that brings out their brilliance. It’s to make sure we don’t overlook those who have already faced that pressure—and recognize their potential to shine.

Impostor syndrome says, “I don’t know what I’m doing. It’s only a matter of time until everyone finds out.”

Growth mindset says, “I don’t know what I’m doing yet. It’s only a matter of time until I figure it out.”

impostor syndrome is a sign of hidden potential. It feels like other people are overestimating you, but it’s more likely that you’re underestimating yourself. They’ve recognized a capacity for growth that you can’t see yet.

the gains that count the most are the hardest to count. The most meaningful growth is not building our careers—it’s building our character.

Success is more than reaching our goals—it’s living our values.

The people who grow the most aren’t the smartest people in the room. They’re the ones who strive to make themselves and others smarter.

embrace the discomfort of matching the method to the task. Reading and writing are usually best for critical thinking. Listening is ideal for understanding emotions, and doing is better for remembering information.

Put yourself in the ring before you feel ready.

your comfort grows as you practice...

Instead of just striving to learn, aim to feel uncomfortable.

To encourage trial and error, set a goal for the minimum number of mistakes you want to make per day or per week.

Seek out new knowledge, skills, and perspectives to fuel your growth—not feed your ego.

Advice is forward-looking—it leads people to coach you. You can get your critics and cheerleaders to act more like coaches by asking a simple question: “What’s one thing I can do better next time?”

Decide what information is worth absorbing—and which should be filtered out. Listen to the coaches who have relevant expertise (credibility), know you well (familiarity), and want what’s best for you (care).

Progress comes from maintaining high standards, not eliminating every flaw.

Mark your growth with Eric Best’s questions: Did you make yourself better today? Did you make someone else better today?

ask a few people to independently rate your work on a scale of 0 to 10. Whatever score you receive, ask them how you can get closer to 10.

Before you release something into the world, assess whether it represents you well. If this was the only work people saw of yours, would you be proud of it?

If you knew five years ago what you’d accomplish now, how proud would you have been?

To maintain harmonious passion, design practice around deliberate play. Set up fun skill-building challenges—like

Measure your progress over time, not against an opponent.

It’s possible to avoid burnout and boreout by introducing novelty and variety into your practice.

Taking time off helps to sustain harmonious passion, unlock fresh ideas, and deepen learning. Relaxing is not a waste of time; it’s an investment in well-being.

When you’re stuck, back up to move forward.

Find a compass. You don’t need a map to start on a new route—you just need a compass to gauge whether you’re heading in the right direction.

remember that the best directions come from multiple guides.

When you find yourself languishing, you can build momentum by taking a detour to a new destination.

The best way to learn something is to teach it.

When you’re doubting your ability to overcome an obstacle, instead of seeking advice, try giving advice.

If ignorant naysayers doubt you, take it as a challenge. Instead of letting them crush your confidence, recognize it as an opportunity to prove them wrong.

when credible believers are behind you, rise to the occasion and prove them right.

Be a good ancestor. When your faith falters, recall who you’re fighting for. Our deepest reserves of resilience come from knowing that other people are counting on us.

Create systems that invest in and create opportunities for all—not

Recognize that intelligence comes in many forms, and every child has the potential to excel. Cultivate a growth mindset in teachers, not only in students.