Years ago, when I was in high school, I played running back on the football team. I was an OK player - not great, but maybe a little better than average. I remember, though, that we did have one guy on the team who was very talented. He could run faster and generally play better than I could. His talent level was well above mine. But, when it really counted I usually outplayed him. That didn’t happen because I was a better player, but because I worked harder. He just wouldn’t put out the effort to reach his full potential. I always thought it was a waste. He could have been really great.

There are a lot of “could have beens” out there, not just in sports but in every area of life. In addition to those with great athletic ability who won’t work hard, there are people with great intelligence who won’t study, those with a great business sense who are too lazy to work, and talented people in every organization who simply don’t want to put out the effort to be great. On the other side there are a lot of just “average folks” who have become hugely successful simply because they were willing to put out the hard work necessary to make it happen.

The Gallup organization has recently published a new book that gives some startling statistics. They say that 50-60% of people are not doing their best work and up to 80% are achieving less and feeling less enthusiastic about their work than they could be. Further, they say that if all of an organization’s employees were to put out one hundred percent effort, customers would be seventy percent more loyal and profits would increase by as much as forty percent. This is not just a matter of employing only the most talented workers, it is a matter of getting all of your people working to their highest level.

So, what would it take to get people in your organization firing on all cylinders? To be sure, it is not simply a matter of better education and training. It requires helping them to see their own potential AND showing them how to get there.

Dr. Freddy Davis is the owner of TSM Enterprises and conducts conferences, seminars and organizational training for executives, managers and sales professionals. He is the author of the book Supercharged! as well as the “Nutshell” Series of books for strengthening business. Sign up, free, for Freddy’s twice-monthly e-letter, Nutshell Notes, at http://www.tsmenterprises.com. You can contact Freddy directly at 888-883-0656 or by e-mail at info@tsmenterprises.com.