Finding Success With “Scaffolding”

What Adam Grant’s “Hidden Potential” and Amasa teach us about growth

When I first joined a new organization a few years back, one of the execs there threw me a challenge: figure out what was stopping growth in their newly bought software company. I was pretty green in that field, but I was up for the challenge. So, I hopped on a plane, checked out the scene, and put together my thoughts and recommendations.

After I wrapped up my presentation, the exec said, “Good. Go for it. And let me know if you hit any snags.” I was both pleased and a bit shocked. Back in my consulting days, getting the green light to put your ideas into action was a big deal – it meant they trusted you. But this time, I was in the driver's seat for the changes I suggested, and that was a whole new ball game.

The first few months were tough – lots of tears and tiring flights as I tried to win over a team that didn’t quite trust me yet. See, people need to believe in your skills and who you are as a person before they can trust your leadership. And I had a lot to prove. I needed to win their trust from across the globe while getting up to speed with a new business area and model. Things started to look up when I used what I’d learned to save a sales deal that was going south. That's when the team began to see I was all in and knew my stuff.

None of this would’ve been possible without some awesome leaders backing me up and showing me the ropes. Around the same time, the company kicked off a big training program to get folks from traditional industries up to speed with software-as-a-service. Both the mentoring and the formal training were critical to equipping me for the work.

Adam Grant talks about this kind of help in his book "Hidden Potential." He calls it “scaffolding” – like the temporary supports used in construction. He says that when you're learning new stuff, especially the hard things, a little extra help can make a huge difference. Having mentors and coaches to push back against challenges helps us grow and get further in our careers than we’d ever imagined.

Take this story from King David’s time. His nephew Amasa was leading an army but didn’t have any support or 'scaffolding.' David's general, Joab, could have mentored Amasa, but instead, he backstabbed him. Joab won a battle, but the bigger picture – the unity David wanted – was lost. See 2 Samuel 19:13 and 2 Samuel 20. It’s a classic case of why it's crucial to guide and support up-and-coming talent.

Amasa, David’s Outsider Nephew

In places where I’ve worked that didn’t have this kind of support, I found it super helpful to seek advice from others and find my own resources to build a personal support system. On the flip side, when I didn’t do that or underestimated how steep the learning curve was, things got way tougher.

Some scaffolding strategies that have worked for me include:

- Breaking down complex materials with resources like The Bible Recap for my year-long reading plan, or the 99% Invisible Podcast series on Robert Caro’s book The Power Broker.

- Diving into books and online courses to sharpen my skills.

- Working with a business coach and a therapist to get past roadblocks.

- Connecting with experts for different perspectives.

- Teaming up with a peer mentor to learn the ins and outs of the job.

So, thinking about your own path, do you feel more like Amasa or Joab? If you’re in Amasa’s shoes, what hurdles are you facing and what resources could you use to get over them? If you’re more like Joab, how could you step up your leadership game by helping others reach their goals? And don’t forget the people who’ve been your scaffolding so far – they’ve played a big part in getting you where you are today.

Whether you’re building it for yourself or offering it to others, 'scaffolding' is key for both personal and professional growth. It's all about grabbing those opportunities to learn and develop, to face challenges head-on, and soar to new heights.