From the Ask Tom Mailbag:

Question:
When you talk about Time Span, you say you use Time Span as a measure of capability. Is Time Span something we are born with? Can it be changed? In other words, is it nature, or nurture?

Response:
Is it nature or nurture? Yes.

There are really two related issues. One issue is Maximum Capability, the other is Applied Capability.

Maximum Capability is what it is. Nature. Cannot be changed. Full potential. The problem with Maximum Capability is that it is difficult, nigh impossible to identify. We can’t see it.

What we can see, is Applied Capability. Why can we see it? There is evidence, work product, observation of behaviors, completion of tasks and judgments of effectiveness. We can see Applied Capability. And yes, there is almost always a difference between Applied Capability and Maximum Capability. We rarely work at our full potential.

Can we, as managers, have an impact on Applied Capability? To influence a person to work to their full potential, to their Maximum Capability? Yes.

There are several reasons that a person may work below their Maximum Capability. They may not have a required skill. As their manager, we might send that person to training. What happens to Applied Capability when a person now possesses the skill? It goes up.

This team member, having completed the training, may decide to go back to school. What happens to Applied Capability when a person engages in educational activity? It likely goes up.

As the manager, you place the team member in a role, with work on which they place a high value, work for which they have interest, passion. What happens to Applied Capability?

This interest in Maximum Capability is often a fruitless quest. We can’t see it, so what’s the point? But, we, as managers can have a dramatic impact on Applied Capability. That’s where I spend my time.