Are great leaders born—or developed?

In this episode, we explore the concept of High Potential and what truly drives leadership effectiveness beyond skills, titles, or experience. Using research-backed insights from the High Potential Trait Indicator (HPTI), this conversation breaks down how personality traits influence leadership capacity—and how those traits can be developed over time.

You’ll learn the difference between behavioral models (like DISC) and personality traits, how leadership potential is defined, and why most people have far more growth capacity than they realize.

We dive into the first three of six High Potential traits and examine how they show up in leaders, individuals, and teams:

• Conscientiousness – the strongest predictor of leadership success, tied to discipline, organization, and goal focus
• Adjustment – emotional resilience under stress and pressure
• Curiosity – openness to learning, innovation, and new ways of thinking

You’ll also hear sample assessment questions, real-world reflections, and a discussion on why too much of a good trait can become a challenge.

This episode sets the foundation for understanding leadership as something that can be intentionally shaped—not something you either have or don’t. 

Next episode: We’ll continue with the remaining three High Potential traits and explore deeper leadership insights.

In This Episode:

• What “high potential” really means in leadership
• Personality traits vs. behavioural styles
• The six traits used to assess leadership potential
• Why conscientiousness matters more than talent alone
• How stress resilience impacts performance
• The role curiosity plays in growth and adaptability
• Why balance—not extremes—creates strong leaders and teams

If you’re interested in learning more about the High Potential Trait Indicator for leadership development, hiring, or coaching, reach out to learn more.

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