Unlock the Hidden Potential of Under-Utilised Talent

It’s disheartening to see talented colleagues disengaged, unfulfilled or just not challenged at work. We all spend so much time at work and so many of us dedicate our lives to our jobs but don’t find the joy or meaning we deserve 

Purpose, Autonomy, and Mastery can drive Engagement and Productivity

Early in my manufacturing career I learned about the 8 Wastes (or the 8 Sins of Muda). The 8th waste identified is ‘the under-utilisation of talent’ or not using people to their fullest potential. While companies invest heavily in equipment, facilities, and the latest software, so often they neglect to train, understand the capabilities or maximise their people. And yet, unlike machines, their people are the only asset that can become more valuable with investment.

The statistics are alarming, 90% of people in the UK don’t feel engaged at work, which leads to massive productivity losses and conversely highlights the huge potential that is available from under-utilised and unrecognised talent. And it’s not about pay, money is a basic satisfier it doesn't provide true fulfilment, true engagement comes from intrinsic motivation: the fulfilment provided by involvement in purposeful, meaningful, engaging work.

When people have a purpose for their efforts, when they are involved in their work, they become invested in it and deliver above and beyond expectations. As enjoyment levels rise, productivity rises. Everyone wins.

How Does This Relate to Compass?

Intrinsic motivation is built on three foundations: Purpose, Autonomy, and Mastery. When people understand the purpose of, and have autonomy over their work, and when they have opportunities to use and develop their skills, intrinsic motivation and true enjoyment follows. As engagement grows, so does ownership, personal investment, and ultimately productivity.

Where to Start: Clarity and Alignment

Clarity and alignment are critical. Everyone should know what they’re doing, why it is important, how they’re progressing and how what they do and how they behave every day aligns with their own and the business’s success.

Yet, I’ve often seen businesses lacking clarity, with people unsure of their purpose or direction. Poor communication and siloed information create an “us vs. them” mentality, undermining teamwork and the success of the whole. If one person succeeds, everyone succeeds—this isn’t a competition.

The Compass Approach: Four Cardinal Points

At Compass, we help businesses and individuals unlock their intrinsic motivation, and this is defined through the four cardinal points to guide the journey:

• Clarity: The north star. Without it, there’s only confusion. Everyone needs to know why they’re there, what they’re doing, and how they fit in.
• Alignment: When clarity is present, everyone moves in the same direction, without conflicting objectives.
• Autonomy: Clarity and alignment enables teams to be empowered to work in the manner they think best, developing mastery as they meet challenges.

• Trust: As clarity, alignment, and autonomy grow, so does trust — trust in the purpose, in the process, and in each other. Trust leads to confidence, better feedback, greater ownership, and even more clarity.

Through our services, we help build Clarity, Alignment, Autonomy, and Trust in organizations and individuals. By fostering open communication, coaching, and collaborative systems, you can create a culture where everyone is engaged, enjoying what they do and moving forward together