8. Early Potential Identification – Who Can Learn to Lead?

Situation

High potentials remain hidden – or are promoted too soon.

Symptoms: early promotions fail due to lack of structure, the wrong people raise their hands – the right ones stay quiet.

Challenge

Goal: identify potential before performance becomes visible, develop systematically, not randomly.

Why it matters: it's not about performance – it's about the potential to perform.

Solution

Potential analysis, learning agility, motivation, and social skills – focus on future capability, not current performance.

Tool Examples

• Profiles International (Profile XT)
• Aon (ADEPT-15, SJT)
• Ixly (AKT, Quinn Roles)

Full analysis in the PEATS Leadership Guide

More Use Cases available in the Use Case Library