I think this is a key area of opportunity for organizations. Right now I see a lot of focus on the High Potentials (HiPos).

However, what really determines an organizations velocity toward goals? It is just the early adopters and HiPos, or is it the speed that you can get the “critical mass” of the organization behind the mission?

To me, the example of mountain climbing illustrates it perfectly. The speed of reaching the top of the mountain is not determined by the best climbers, but how the team can move together.

Just as you don’t want climbers to carry unnecessary items (load) and be strongly aligned on the approach to the summit, the same principles apply here.