What if we hired more Neville Longbottoms?

Neville Longbottom, played by Matthew Lewis, in the first Harry Potter movie

An ode to the real unsung heroes - at Hogwarts and at work.

I’ve been a Harry Potter fan since the books first came out (yes, I’m that old 😄) - so visiting the Harry Potter Studios in London recently was a real dream come true. Walking through the sets, one small detail stayed with me: in the boys’ dormitory, you can hear Neville softly humming as he practices dancing for the Yule Ball (Goblet of Fire). It’s such a small, human moment. And it reminded me why Neville Longbottom has always been my favourite character.

Not because he was the strongest, the smartest, or the chosen one. But because he grew. He stumbled, stayed loyal, authentic, and was brave in ways most people never noticed.

And it got me thinking…

In the world of Harry Potter...

Neville Longbottom isn’t who you expect to stand out. He’s not top of the class. He’s not particularly talented. He’s anxious, awkward, forgetful - almost always underestimated. He’s the kid people look past.

And yet, when you take a step back, Neville ends up being one of the bravest characters of all. Not because he was gifted, destined, or charismatic - but because he kept showing up. He stood up to his friends when it was hard, and to his enemies when it really mattered.

Neville made mistakes. He hesitated, froze, failed. But that’s how he learned. That’s how most of us do. Mistakes aren’t weakness - they’re growth in motion. And Neville shows what can happen when someone is given the time and space to grow.

He’s not a prodigy. He’s not a “high potential”. He’s the steady, growing force who becomes essential to the story.

In organisations

We love to focus on the stars - the top performers, the fast-trackers. We’re drawn to potential and presence. We bet on people who stand out.

But most of a company’s success doesn’t come from the top 10%. It comes from the peloton.

The peloton is a cycling term for the large group of riders who work together to reduce drag and support one another. They don’t lead the race, they’re not winning medals. But they’re keeping the pace, pushing forward, setting the rhythm. The peloton is what makes the whole system move.

In the same way, organisations rely on their middle performers - the ones who don’t necessarily shine in reviews but who quietly carry projects through, support their teams, and build consistency over time.

These are the Neville Longbottoms of the workplace. You might not notice them at first. They’re rarely loud or flashy. But they grow. They care. They make the culture stronger. And when a crisis hits or a turning point comes, they’re often the ones who step up in unexpected, game-changing ways.

Maybe it’s time we stopped only chasing heroes - and started recognising the power of the peloton. Let’s reward not just outcomes, but the people who show up, lift others, and keep things moving.

And sometimes, that looks a lot like Neville.

PS: And book fans know: Neville was never just the awkward kid with a toad. He was always closer to the centre of the story than most people realise.