How to reach your untapped potential at work

At Hey Compono, we’ve spent over a decade researching why people feel misunderstood in their careers. The truth is, most of us have been told we’re "too much" of one thing or "not enough" of another since we were kids. You might have been told you’re too loud, too quiet, too blunt, or too sensitive. Over time, you start to believe those labels. You hide the parts of yourself that don't seem to fit the corporate script, and in doing so, you bury your greatest assets.

Realising your untapped potential isn't about some magical transformation or reaching a state of perfection. It’s about validation. It’s about finally understanding why you behave the way you do and realising that those traits you’ve been trying to "fix" are actually the keys to your success. When you stop fighting your nature, you start finding your flow.

The cost of hiding how you really tick

Living with untapped potential is exhausting. It leads to a specific kind of burnout – not the kind that comes from having too much to do, but the kind that comes from being someone you’re not. When you spend eight hours a day suppressing your natural instincts, you have nothing left for yourself at the end of the day. You’re not just tired; you’re depleted.

Consider the professional who is naturally The Pioneer. They are visionary and imaginative, but they’ve been stuck in a role that demands rigid adherence to old systems. They feel like a failure because they struggle with routine, but their real untapped potential lies in their ability to innovate and take risks. They aren't broken; they’re just in the wrong lane.

When we ignore our work personality, we don't just stall our careers – we lose our sense of self. We stop trusting our intuition and start looking for answers in productivity hacks or "New Year, New You" narratives that never actually stick. The answer isn't a new list of habits; it's a deeper level of self-awareness.

Identifying your natural work personality

To reach your untapped potential, you first have to identify what’s actually in the tank. We often focus on our weaknesses because they’re the loudest. If you’re an Auditor, you might beat yourself up for not being the most charismatic person in the room. But your untapped potential is in your precision, your methodical nature, and your ability to see the details everyone else misses.

Hey Compono uses a personality-adaptive approach to help you see these patterns. Instead of giving you a generic report, it looks at the eight work actions that define high-performing teams. By seeing where you naturally sit on the wheel – whether you're a Helper, a Doer, or an Advisor – you can start to see why certain tasks feel like pulling teeth while others feel like second nature.

Think about The Doer. They are the backbone of any team, consistently delivering and focusing on the present. Their untapped potential often lies in their reliability and practical execution. If they are constantly being pushed to be "visionary" at the expense of their hands-on work, the team loses its most dependable engine.

Why your "flaws" are actually your strengths

We’ve all been told at some point that we need to be more well-rounded. But the most successful people aren't well-rounded – they are incredibly "spiky". They have leaning-in strengths that they’ve learned to sharpen. Your untapped potential is usually hidden behind the things you’ve been told to tone down.

Take The Campaigner, for example. They might have been told they’re "too enthusiastic" or that they "talk too much". In reality, their ability to persuade, influence, and sell a dream is a rare and powerful skill. When they embrace that energy instead of trying to be a quiet, detail-focused analyst, their potential becomes limitless.

Similarly, The Evaluator might be labelled as "critical" or "confrontational". But their untapped potential is their objectivity and their ability to see risks before they become disasters. A team without an Evaluator is a team that’s flying blind. When you recognise the value in your directness, you stop apologising for it and start using it to drive results.

Creating an environment where you can thrive

You can have all the potential in the world, but if you’re in a toxic or mismatched environment, you won’t grow. Reaching your untapped potential requires a level of honesty with your team and your manager. It’s about saying, "I’m at my best when I’m solving complex problems, but I struggle when I’m isolated from the group.”

If you are The Helper, you thrive on harmony and supporting others. Your potential is unlocked in collaborative spaces. If you’re forced into a highly competitive, cut-throat environment, you’ll likely shut down. Recognising this isn't a sign of weakness; it’s a strategic move to ensure you’re in a position to win.

For The Advisor, the key is flexibility. They are the ultimate collaborators who ensure everyone’s voice is heard. Their untapped potential is in their ability to facilitate and adapt. At Hey Compono, we help teams understand these dynamics so that everyone can play to their strengths rather than competing for the same space.

Moving from awareness to action

Self-awareness is the first step, but it’s not the finish line. To truly tap into your potential, you need to change your behaviour. This might mean delegating tasks that drain you or raising your hand for projects that align with your Coordinator nature – where you can organise, set priorities, and build systems that actually work.

It also means being patient with yourself. You’ve likely spent years building up defences and trying to fit in. Deconstructing those habits takes time. But as you start to align your daily work with your natural personality, you’ll find that you have more energy, more focus, and a much clearer sense of where you’re going.

Your untapped potential is waiting for you to stop trying to be someone else. It’s not about finding a "new you"; it’s about finally meeting the real you and giving them the space to lead. When you understand how you tick, you don't just work better – you live better.

Key takeaways

• Untapped potential is often hidden behind traits you’ve been told to "fix" or tone down.
• Burnout often stems from the emotional labour of being someone you’re not at work.
• Identifying your work personality helps you understand your natural flow and blind spots.
• Success comes from sharpening your "spiky" strengths rather than trying to be well-rounded.
• Unlocking potential requires aligning your environment with your natural needs for structure, creativity, or collaboration.

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FAQs

What exactly is untapped potential?
Untapped potential refers to the natural skills, strengths, and capacities you have that aren't being utilised in your current role or environment. It’s the gap between who you are being and who you are capable of being when your work aligns with your personality.

How do I know if I have untapped potential?
If you feel bored, misunderstood, or like you’re constantly "masking" your true self at work, you likely have significant untapped potential. Another sign is feeling energised by certain tasks but drained by the majority of your daily routine.

Can my personality change over time?
While your core work personality tends to remain stable, your ability to adapt and use different "muscles" grows with self-awareness. However, you will always have a "home base" where you are most efficient and motivated.

Why does Hey Compono focus on 8 personality types?
Our research into high-performing teams identified 8 key work activities (Evaluating, Coordinating, Campaigning, Pioneering, Advising, Helping, Doing, and Auditing). Understanding which of these you naturally gravitate toward is the fastest way to unlock your potential.

Is it possible to reach my potential in a job I don't like?
It’s difficult, but not impossible. By understanding your personality, you can often "job craft" – adjusting how you perform your tasks or interact with colleagues to better suit your natural strengths while you look for a better fit.