Pursue Excellence over Compliance

This coaching tip was originally published in the Coaching for Excellence newsletter.

An employee who cares about the quality of their work and the integrity of the business is too often perceived as a threat. A threat to insecure bosses and mediocre team mates. I’ve seen this and experienced it.

Questions and work ethic reveal weaknesses in the system and challenge others to step up. Many businesses want compliance, not excellence. As a result, these employees are shut out, let go, or leave because they feel stuck.

Tall poppy syndrome is the tendency to criticize, undermine or resent those who achieve notable success, particularly when they stand out. 

Forbes

Great leaders aren’t intimidated. They value employees who care by listening, addressing concerns instead of dismissing them, and inviting the employee to share additional feedback. They give employees the margin to think, ideate, play, and recharge.

Employers driven by fear focus on compliance and squeezing productivity out of every minute. This control stagnates performance and creativity. As the old saying goes, “can’t squeeze blood from a stone.”

You can’t train for desire and work ethic. Instead, cultivate excellence and compliance will take care of itself.

Employees who care are the future leaders of business. Will they help lead your business or someone else’s?

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