Confessions of a High Potential Employee

Oct 8
21:00

2004

Crystal Smith

Crystal Smith

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HighPo. HiPo. Hypo? No. If I were in HR I would use HiPo. It’s cute and ... just the right number of letters from each word.In my recent ... review I was deemed to be a high ... e

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HighPo. HiPo. Hypo? No. If I were in HR I would use HiPo. It’s cute and balanced; just the right number of letters from each word.

In my recent performance review I was deemed to be a high potential employee,Confessions of a High Potential Employee Articles or HiPo in HR speak. What does HiPo mean? Well, according to a recent talk by an HR person, HiPos get noticed by the higher-ups in the company. HiPos are valuable employees. HiPos are rare. The conferring of this title must be explained to upper management by the HiPo’s direct supervisor. HiPos get special attention when it comes to the training budget. HiPos are assisted in their career path, that is, their plan for advancement. “Whatever.” I thought at the time, rather indifferently. This HiPo talk caused quite a stir in the office, what with all the people concerned about how non-HiPos will be treated. I joined in these conversations for a while and then returned to my desk, not giving HiPo another thought. Until my performance review.

How this weighty designation came to be applied to me is quite a mystery. I thought I was just doing my job. Apparently, somewhere along the way, I inadvertently revealed my potential. I must confess. Being called a HiPo didn’t flatter me or make me feel great about myself. It disturbed me. Not to the point that I’m being kept up at night, but it has rankled me somewhat. I don’t want to be a HiPo. I just want to do my job. I don’t want to be noticed by upper management. I have no career plan besides continuing in my current position. I am a technical writer. By our very nature technical writers are insular and solitary creatures. Corporate ladder climbers we are not.

This concept of HiPo is indicative of the mindset of corporate culture. In this culture you must desire to advance, to be given a more impressive title, and, of course, to earn more and more money. This mindset is revealed before you even obtain a position in a company. Every job interview I’ve had has asked the dreaded question about where I see myself in five years. If I answered that question honestly I would say that I would be in the same line of work, at the same level. But I could not answer honestly, so I have had to lie. To show that I’m driven and career-minded I’ve had to tell my interviewers that I see myself as a supervisor, team leader, or manager. But I am not driven and career-minded. I take pride in doing my job well and I do work hard. But I do not work to the point of exhaustion. I do not take work home with me. I do not care about advancement. I care more about balancing my work with my life outside of work and, in today’s workplace, that attitude does not lead you up the corporate ladder. How did I become a HiPo? I really don’t know. But since I don’t fit the mould, maybe I can help break it. Perhaps I can show head office that an employee can be a HiPo and not have to aggressively charge up the ladder. Perhaps I can make management understand that for me to continue being a HiPo and to continue making what are deemed to be valuable contributions to the company, I need more balance between work and home. I want to telecommute more. I want more flexible hours. Perhaps I can show them that if they provided a greater work/life balance for their employees, they might end up with more HiPos. If I can accomplish this, then I will feel like I’ve really met my potential.

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