Big Potential

Question 1

The highest achievers were those who…

Answer 1

… formed the most social connections and shared information in more ways. (p.30 - published in Nature).

Question 2

The mere presence of social support around you transforms your perception.
If you look at a hill while standing next to someone you consider to be a friend…

Answer 2

… the hill looks 10 to 20 percent less steep than if you were facing that hill alone. (p. 31 - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology)

Question 3

At Harvard, social connection was the greatest predictor of…

Answer 3

… thriving both personally and academically. (p.33 - Anchor’s grad studies…?)

Question 4

When it comes to potential, individual traits and aptitudes are…

Answer 4

… poor predictors of success on a team.
(p.36 - Project Aristotle at Google)

Question 5

A team hits its highest levels of performance over and over and over at Google when the individuals on the team had…

Answer 5

1) high social sensitivity - a strong awareness of the importance of social connections
2) if the team had cultivated an environment where each person spoke just about equally and everyone felt safe sharing their ideas

(p.37 - Project Aristotle at Google)

Question 6

If you became happier, any friend within a one-mile radius would…

Answer 6

…be 63 percent more likely to also become happier. (p.40 - Fowler & Christakis)

Question 7

Employees who work in an environment with a transformative leader - one who inspires with a clear vision and encourages subordinates to create new ideas and outlooks - were…

Answer 7

…significantly more creative and mentally flexible (a condition for innovation) than those who work for a transactional leader - one who offers praise and rewards in direct exchange for high performance done in isolation.
(p.43 - Creativity Research Journal)

Question 8

The first mental barrier to Big Potential is an…

Answer 8

… ego-based one:
Why would I want to help someone else lose be more competitive? Isn’t it better to be the smartest or strongest person in the room?

Question 9

Competition can be productive when…

Answer 9

…wanting to go first is coupled with the intention to pave the way for others, make their path easier, help them, or show the way. (p. 49 - Dalaï Lama)