What are superpowers? As a young boy, I always thought that the best superpower would be the ability to transport yourself in the blink of an eye. Then, of course, I realized that this would not be a skill I could learn. Later in school, I learned about superpowers in relation to global studies and how a superpower is "a state that possesses military or economic might, or both, and general influence vastly superior to that of other states."
It was not until decades later, after interacting with top executives from over half of the F100 companies, that I realized that personal superpowers do exist, and they are utilized in corporate America with great success. Here are four superpowers I have observed to be extraordinary abilities that can lead to success.
1. Natural Curiosity: A Judgment Superpower
Have you noticed when someone is genuinely interested in what you are saying? They listen intensely, ask surprising questions and confirm what they have learned. Through active listening, they help drive engaging dialogue, uncover new ideas, build stronger relationships and leave everyone feeling richer with knowledge.
Inquisitive, curious people are lifelong learners who constantly want to keep up with new technology, trends, market conditions, new team members, competitors, etc. The superpower of natural curiosity drives learning agility and provides an adaptability edge.
This agility comes with a comfort in complexity and ambiguity. They press for the opinion of others, even when they expect diverse answers. They are driven by finding ways to improve the status quo and are unsatisfied with mediocracy. They continually seek new information to advance their mission. They are always in the know, armed with up-to-date knowledge, in order to make better decisions.
2. Empathy: A Persuasion Superpower
Perhaps this superpower is more like the x-ray vision in comic books. The ability to see the world through another person's eyes is a skill only a minority possesses. This ability to cast oneself into the role (as would a method-trained movie actor) of another professional is a superpower and is connected to the ability to relate, connect, align and even persuade.
Empathy, as Dr. Brené Brown would describe it, enables you to place yourself in someone else's shoes. It needs to be done without judgment and with mindful listening. This superpower includes recognizing or even feeling the other person's emotions and showing them that you relate. In business, this is a critical skill. We are always trying to sell something and positively engage our stakeholders. Seeing things through their lens and then adjusting your demeanor, message, pace, style and rationale can provide top executives with persuasive power beyond normal abilities. In my experience, those with this skill have teams, customers, peers and investors who believe they are understood and that their best interests are being considered. Now that is a very valuable power.
3. Talent Identification: A Scaling Superpower
In a way, an executive who recognizes talent can predict the future and make decisions that achieve the best possible outcome while avoiding disaster, like in the movie Minority Report. It may be relatively easy to observe what talents people possess today, but it is another level of skill to assess abilities in order to accurately predict their future impact on the organization's mission. Experienced executives who display natural curiosity, a growth mindset and an interest in developing others may often also have the incredible ability to recognize, elevate and reward talent.
Of course, years of data and associated tools can help with this. For example, Korn Ferry's Assessment of Leadership Potential utilizes 50 years of research data to assess what makes high-potential candidates for leadership positions. They look to learning agility, track record of work experience, self-awareness, leadership traits and aptitude.
But just like any other superpower, some executives seem to have this capability built in. They can do this naturally by observing, interacting, testing and then coaching and rewarding on the job. They brilliantly balance investing in people with calculating the possible timing, reward and risk in expanding roles and responsibilities. They tend to recognize a person's hard and soft skills more clearly than others, and they know that the only way to grow and evolve a business is by expanding the team and elevating the roles and skillsets of its members. They believe that the only what to elevate themselves and the organization is to develop effective leaders on their team; this becomes a daily top priority for them. Knowing who to rely on, for what and when they are ready for it (or not) is certainly a superpower.
4. Strategic Thinking: A Bird's Eye View Superpower
Have you witnessed some leaders who seem to have the power to tap into a fourth dimension where, like in science fiction movies, they seemingly cross space and time in order to see the path to achieving a set of goals? These types of leaders deliberately zoom out in order to see the big picture. They can cleverly account for historical lessons, consider "what is" and have a sense of what "will be."
They can contextualize their company's situation, industry pressures, regional realities and even the state of the global economy and know how these elements are relevant to them. They are aware they are not only in a battle with direct competitors but with alternative solutions and future entrants. They use reality and intuition to guide the company and their team to the right destination. Once they see the destination, they can connect the dots and map out how to arrive while staying agile enough to pivot if the environment changes.
In movies, superheroes obtain their powers through some magical event in combination with their unique characteristics. I feel that it is no different in business. Some of these skills are innate, but without experience and events to unlock these powers, you will most likely stay ordinary. So, identify and harness your superpowers and then put them to work.