The sad ending to the life of 27 year-old and talented but visibly troubled singer, Amy Winehouse, offers a sobering reminder of the horrible waste of undeveloped talent.

Winehouse’s music now belongs to the ages. While perhaps she was most well known for her troubles, I suspect her fans are even more saddened by what they won’t hear from her in the years to come.  

What if? 

Different circumstances…an accident, but I still wonder what Stevie Ray Vaughn would have given us these past two decades.   Perhaps the difference between SRV and Winehouse was that Stevie soared beyond his problems to deliver something remarkable for a time, only to be cut down by an accident.  Too short, but greatness delivered.

What if?

Some people flirt with their potential for a moment in time, but never quite realize it. Winehouse seems to fit in this category. If you listen and experience her work on “Back to Black” and “Frank” you hear something special. Someone flirting with greatness…and it leaves you…or at least me wanting more.

What if? 

What’s the Unrealized Potential on Your Team?

I see unrealized potential in the workplace all of the time. Brilliant people held back by their lack of self-confidence or self-esteem.  Visionaries who labor in silence…and great minds working in one area to pay the bills while their true talents go unappreciated.

Some bosses hold people back. I overheard this recently…a remarkable knowledge worker with talents invisible to his boss offered some ideas to improve the business. “You stick to your job and I’ll make the right decisions for the business.”

What if?

Other bosses fail to help individuals and teams find the greatness in them. These people are transactional managers or narcissistic leaders interested only in the task at hand…and blind to the potential of people and the business.

As a leader, you have a choice to search for greatness in your people. Your actions, your word….your efforts to nudge or push or help people develop, is what you are supposed to be about.  In your own small or big way, you’re supposed to be a contributor to greatness. 

Ask and help people answer: “What if?”

The Bottom-Line for Now:

Don’t leave unrealized potential on the table…for yourself or the people you serve.  It’s OK to ask “What if? in the present tense…as long as it’s answered by actions. After the fact however, the words simply speak of greatness unrealized and talent undeveloped.