The document provides 20 reasons why one may not be reaching their full potential, along with suggestions for overcoming obstacles. Some of the key reasons discussed include lack of clarity on goals and strategies, not investing in the right projects, having limiting beliefs, and not prioritizing self-improvement. The document advocates finding an accountability partner, regularly making decisions, and questioning limitations in order to continuously challenge oneself and remove barriers to achieving maximum performance.

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20 Reasons Why You’re Not
Hitting Your Potential 09 March 2017
Imagine what you might achieve, if you removed all obstacles. Whatever your feelings about coaching, there's much to be
learnt from the way coaches unlock potential. Here are 20 ideas to help you stretch yourself for new levels of performance.
“A coach is someone who tells you what you don’t want
to hear, who has you see what you don’t want to see, so
you can be who you have always known you could be.”
Tom Landry, NFL Coach.
Whenever I work with someone on unlocking their
potential, I always start with this:
Performance = Potential – Interference
Tim Gallwey’s brilliant Inner Game formula is a magical
place to start. Because consider now: what might you
achieve, if you removed all interference?
If all obstacles, internal and external, were set aside; if you
abandoned and upgraded old ways of thinking and
behaving that have kept you stuck; if you brought your
most powerful self to the game, every time?
Whatever the focus of your next-level potential, challenge
yourself with these twenty ideas – and get to grips with
the changes you need to make to unlock new performance.
#1 You’re not clear
on the goal.
Everything starts with the goal. An obvious thing to say –
yet many/most of us focus on the problems and the
obstacles – and whilst only having only a vague idea of
the goal. Always start with (and keep coming back to!)
the goal. And check that you’re crystal-clear on it – and
completely connected to it.
#2 You’re not clear on the
goal behind the goal.
Why are you doing what you’re doing? What’s most
important to you about that? What will that lead to?
How does your goal connect to the higher purpose? Get
clear on the goal behind the goal.
#3 You’re not clear
on the strategy.
This is where many get stuck. And it reminds us that
setting an end goal is only part of the story. We need
performance goals and work goals to complement – and

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achieve – the end goal. Move yourself from Vision
thinking to Planning thinking. Get clear on the work you
need to do, day-in, day-out. And stick to it.
#4 You’re not aligned with
your true values.
Whether specific goal work or just (!) the day-to-day, to
live and work in conflict with our values creates massive
interference. To be once again congruent, get to know
your values. And I mean: your actual values, as opposed
to the values you think you should or would like to have!
#5 You’re not investing in
the right projects.
There’s work that moves us forward. And there’s work
that doesn’t. And we know the difference – but act like
we don’t. Can you honestly say you’re investing your
precious and exhaustible energies in all the right places?
Or is it disappearing into low value activities and positive
procrastination? Take a mental step back and know
which are the projects where the heavy investments need
to be.
#6 You’re not choosing to
believe the right things.
Beliefs are the stories we tell ourselves – and attach to, as
if they’re undeniable truths. We get to choose our beliefs –
but you might not think it, given how unhelpful some of
the choices we make are. Reflect now: what are you
choosing to believe? About yourself. And about what’s
possible. Are those helpful beliefs? Or beliefs that are in
desperate need of an upgrade?
#7 You’re not working
enough on YOU.
We can all-too-easily fixate on the goal, the strategy, the
actions. And all the while, neglect self. And how many
systems do you know whose standards don’t deteriorate
when neglected? Notice now: how little you’re working
on YOU (it’ll be reflected in your calendar and on your
ToDo list, I’m sure!). Address that imbalance.
#8 You’re lacking
outside accountability.
There’s something very motivating about telling someone
you’ve done what you said you would do. (Or is that:
avoiding telling someone you haven’t done what you said
you would?) Find an accountability partner.
#9 You’ve allowed
yourself to plateau.
It’s a welcome place to be: knowing you’re in total
command of your role. Knowing exactly what you’re
doing and effortlessly hitting a high standard. But take a
different frame and we might call that a plateau. And for
all its seductions, the bottom line: I’m not growing,
learning, moving forward. When you get comfortable, it’s
time to renew the challenge.
#10 You’re not focused
enough on the behavioural.
At your level, it’s not about the technical. Because you
know your job and you know it well. At your level, it’s
about the behavioural. What behaviours do you need to
work on and develop? And what behaviours do you need
to stop doing?
#11 You’re not looking
after your energy.
Unlocking potential is about winning an inner game –
and then finding the resources to go achieve it. Things like
motivation, inspiration, balance and energy. What are
you doing to fuel yourself for the journey?

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#12 You’re not
making decisions.
Indecision is the root of stuckness. We become paralysed at
inaction, for fear of making a mistake or missing out or
looking silly. And we forget how great it feels to make a
decision. Any decision. So for those times when we feel
totally stuck, just decide. Simple as that. Find a small
decision you can make. Then another. And then another.
Don’t stop making decisions. And reacquaint yourself with
the decision-making habit
#13 You’re not clear on the
“little” things in the way.
Tolerations, frustrations, niggles. They add up: quickly and
significantly! Make a list now of all the things you’re
tolerating, however small. Push yourself for a list of at
least 20 things – it’ll be hard at first, but then they’ll flow!
And notice just how much interference is out there. Make
the commitment now: remove all tolerations!
#14 You don’t know
yourself well enough.
This happens in two ways: we decide we’re a certain
way, and so rarely see evidence to the contrary (not least
because we strive to make ourselves be right about that!);
or we just don’t see what is so clear to others. Who is
alongside you, noticing (without judgement) how you’re
doing your potential – or lack of it?
#15 You’re not
acknowledging your
successes.
What are you not taking credit for? What losses are you
over-inflating and/or failing to view as feedback? What
learning are you leaving behind that you could be
carrying forward to unlock new potential? In short: who’s
there to tame the inner gremlin? Who’s there to catch you
doing things right?
#16 You’re not asking good
enough questions.
There’s no point in complaining about things that haven’t
worked or resources you don’t have. What’s needed is a
better question. Whenever “disaster” strikes, build the habit
of finding the better question.
#17 You’re not asking
brave enough questions.
What questions are you not asking, for fear of moving
into areas you dare not take yourself? Our best thinking
and most inspired action exists in those dark corners. If you
won’t ask yourself the question – find someone who will!
#18 You’re just not
playing at the next level.
At some point, we just need to notice we’re simply not
playing at the upper level. And that’s a useful thought:
because when you see it, you see it everywhere: the
company you keep, the environments you place yourself
in, the language you use (externally and internally), the
way you behave, the priorities you set, the decisions you
take. Commit now: play your game at a whole new level.
#19 You’ve already
decided.
My favourite potential-limiting obstacle to uncover and do
away with: the decision-already-made. I can’t. I won’t. I
don’t have the time. That’s just the way I am. That’s not
possible. And when you’ve already decided, you’ve set the
bar low. Undo that decision, raise the bar – and clear it!

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The 20th reason
I can’t say the reason you’re not achieving your potential
is because you don’t have a coach. Because that’s not how
coaching works. There’s no “should” or “must have” or
“need” with coaching. It’s just a question of whether we
want it or not.
But notice now: if you had a coach (and by all means:
name your own impassioned inner voice “coach”!) the
difference it might make to all the other reasons you’re not
achieving your potential.
Personally, I believe through-and-through in the power of
coaching. I have my own coach and have had for years –
but not because “I should have coaching” or “I must have
coaching” or “I need coaching”.
I have coaching because I love having someone who
believes in me. I love having someone who holds me
accountable to a bigger, brighter and more resourceful
version of myself. Who helps me overcome obstacles and
play at a whole new level.
So, back to basics:
Performance = Potential – Interference.
Dan Beverly is a leadership and performance coach helping high-calibre, high-
performing professional women embrace the pivotal career moments.
His mission is to inspire possibility in others: to help us excel in careers without
compromise; and to leave us feeling energised and uplifted by a new future.
Go online to book your “Session Zero” with Dan – and start capitalising on
your pivotal career moments today.
http://danbeverly.com/session-zero