As Vincent van de Belt, a consultant at Cubiks, points out, “If an organization is not able to distinguish between performance and potential, it will have difficulty identifying talent.”. The five IQ measures were differently related to the six high … They identified six traits that are consistently linked to workplace success, which they have now combined into the High Potential Trait Inventory (HPTI).. They are effective strategic planners, demonstrating high conscientiousness through strong planning, objective-directed behaviour and discipline. According to new psychological research, these six traits constitute a “high potential” personality that will take you far in life. Can Make and Act on Decisions. Mistaking a high-performing employee for a high-potential employee can be costly. Personality traits of high potential employees. The truth, of course, is a little more nuanced. Most high-potential employees are highly engaged in their field, industry and/or company. This happens all the time. Conscientiousness - HiPo’s are self-motivated and driven to achieve. High-potential employees aren’t just career-minded; they’re ambitious in a focused way. Conscientiousness, Risk Approach, Ambiguity Acceptance, and Competitiveness were related to IQ. Not everyone can make decisions and then follow through on them. A “high IQ society,” Mensa requires that its members have an IQ in the top 2 percent. High Potential Trait Indicator (HPTI; MacRae & Furnham, 2014; MacRae, 2012)—MacRae and Furnham created a taxonomy of personality at work, the High Potential Traits Inventory (HPTI), based on Silzer and Church’s (2009a, 2009b) theoretical framework of potential. ), high-potential employees are like hot air balloons — to reach new heights, they need a little fire inside. So an early indicator of high potential is emotional intelligence, which can be assessed by psychometric tests and further refined through training and development. High potential employees need to be able to compete in that intense setting while staying flexible, so they can adapt when unforeseen challenges occur. "The high potential personality thrives in conditions of uncertainty by creating control over the situation they are subjected to," Silva says. 8. Drive. 820 adults completed a six trait personality test and a multidimensional intelligence test. The initial phase of identifying high-potential future leaders is to focus on their competencies and innate abilities during the recruitment phase. The best way to get a sense of this is to evaluate their commitment to career progression. Whether that extra layer of passion comes from an intrinsic drive, a set goal, or just a genuine interest in their work (hopefully, all three! David Robson’s BBC article The secrets of the ‘high-potential’ personality hi-lights new psychological research that Ian MacRae and Adrian Furnham of University College London have done. For most intelligence tests, this corresponds to an IQ of about 132 or higher.