Book Club: Hidden Potential at Work | Why Growth Beats Polish

Ep. 23 – Book Club: Hidden Potential at Work | Why Growth Beats Polish

Welcome back to the Corporate Cliché Podcast!
Join Jen + Jess for honest, unfiltered watercooler conversations about what it’s really like working in corporate.

In this Book Club episode, we’re diving into Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant. This conversation challenges the corporate obsession with talent, polish, and pedigree—and replaces it with something far more powerful: growth, character, and support.

From underdog stories and leadership lessons to imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and workplace culture, Jen + Jess break down why potential isn’t something you’re born with—it’s something you unlock. If you’ve ever felt overlooked, underestimated, or “not quite there yet,” this episode is for you.

🔥 Episode Highlights:

• ✅ Why talent is overrated and growth is underestimated
  
  
• ✅ The difference between personality and character at work
  
  
• ✅ What “scaffolding” really means—and why leaders need it
  
  
• ✅ How discomfort, doubt, and imposter syndrome signal growth
  
  
• ✅ Why hiring for polish causes companies to miss real potential
  
  
• ✅ Lessons from underdogs who defied the odds
  
  

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Potential isn’t fixed—it’s developed over time
  
  
• It’s not where you start, it’s how far you grow
  
  
• Support unlocks potential more effectively than pressure
  
  
• Character, curiosity, and resilience matter more than credentials
  
  
• Growth often looks messy before it looks successful
  
  

👥 Join the Conversation!
How do you define potential at work? Share this episode and let us know what resonated most.

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📚 Next Book Club Pick:
The Platinum Rule — come read along with us as we continue changing corporate culture one conversation at a time.