Mind Your Capability Gap

A few months ago, during a business trip to one of our operational countries, I noticed a promising but underperforming colleague. Despite his talent and ambition, the business results were below par. After reviewing his work, I realized he wasn’t operating at his full potential. Frustrated by his lack of commitment, I gave him a candid tongue-lashing, expressing my disappointment in no uncertain terms.

That conversation was a forgotten memory until a couple of weeks ago when this colleague contacted me again. He surprised me by thanking me for the verbal dressing down, saying he had reflected on my feedback and realized he was not operating at his best. He shared how that moment helped him reorient his entire approach to work, and today, his business results are much stronger. I can see the improvement myself.

As a leader, I’m particularly tough on those with high ambitions. I push them hard when I see a disconnect between their potential and delivery. This gap between ambition and action is what I call the “capability gap.”

We all have ambitions and expectations of ourselves, and we go about our work with varying degrees of ownership, accountability, finesse, intensity, and problem-solving. When there’s a disconnect between our ambitions and daily actions, a ‘capability gap’ emerges – the space between what we’re capable of and what we’re delivering. Recognizing this gap is the first step towards bridging it, and it’s a crucial realization for personal and professional growth.

My job is to help people recognize their full potential and push them to close that gap, ensuring they exceed not just external expectations but their own.

If you want your team to thrive, don’t hesitate to be tough when necessary. A firm push can help talented individuals recognize their shortcomings and unlock their full potential.