How to Help Someone Reach Their Potential
Almost everyone can name a person who saw something in them before they saw it themselves. You can be that person for someone else.
To help someone reach their potential, tell them specifically what you see in them, ask what they want for themselves, offer opportunities slightly beyond their comfort zone, support them without taking over, give honest feedback, celebrate progress and stay patient through setbacks. Often the most powerful thing you can do is say out loud the potential you already see.
The highest level of success is helping others become more. I believe that, and I have seen it play out many times. Some of the most meaningful moments in my career have been watching someone become more than they thought they could be, and knowing I played a small part.
Whether you are a manager, a parent, a coach or a friend, the steps are surprisingly similar.
Seven ways to help someone grow
- Say what you see. Specifically and out loud.
- Ask what they want. Their goals, not yours.
- Offer stretch. One step beyond comfortable.
- Support, do not take over. Help without rescuing.
- Be honest. Kind and direct feedback.
- Celebrate progress. Notice every step.
- Stay patient. Growth is rarely a straight line.
Say what you see
People often need to hear how others see them before they can see it themselves. Be specific: not you are great, but the way you handled that conversation showed real leadership. When I told a team member who had not applied for a promotion that her team saw her as a leader, it changed how she saw herself. She is now in a leadership role. See The Words You Forget, Your People Remember.
Ask what they want
Potential is personal. Before you push someone toward a goal, ask what they want for themselves: where they want to be in a few years, what they enjoy, what they want to learn. Helping someone reach their potential means their version, not yours.
Offer stretch and support
Look for opportunities slightly beyond what they have done before, and offer to support them through it. Then resist the urge to take over when it gets hard. Solving it for them can confirm their fear that they cannot. See Coaching Questions for Managers.
Be honest
Helping someone grow includes telling them the truth about what is holding them back, kindly and directly. People rarely reach their potential surrounded only by people who tell them what they want to hear. See How to Give Feedback to Employees.
Celebrate and stay patient
Notice progress and name it. And be patient through setbacks, because growth is rarely a straight line. The people who believed in me were the ones who kept believing when I stumbled.
Helping others grow is part of You Are Capable of More: Leadership and my signature keynote, You Are Capable of More. For the bigger picture, read Human Potential: A Complete Guide.
You can be the person who sees something in someone before they see it themselves. Say what you see, ask what they want, offer stretch with support, be honest, celebrate progress and stay patient through setbacks.
Frequently asked questions
How can I help someone reach their potential?
How do you encourage someone to grow?
What does a good mentor do?
Why does believing in someone matter?
You Are Capable of More
A No-Excuses Guide to Becoming Your Best Self. The bestselling book behind Chris’s keynotes and the 2026 Paris Book Festival winner in the How-To category. Many teams hand a copy to every seller at their kickoff.
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Chris Sund speaks on this in You Are Capable of More: Leadership and You Are Capable of More, for conferences, leadership teams and company meetings.
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