Mediocrity is a more widespread problem than poor performance. It’s also much harder to fix. People tend to lower their standards to accept ‘good enough’ as though mediocrity has its own gravity.
We temporarily forget that life is too short to drink average coffee when you can get the good stuff.
In listening to a presentation by Aspen Medical Executive Chair Glenn Keyes this week, he remarked how in the health sector some countries can ‘leapfrog’ ahead of others that are heavily invested in old systems and infrastructure.
The complexity and sunk costs with the status quo make transformational change fiendishly difficult.
The opportunity for emerging economies is to choose excellence and leap ahead of developed economies.
The phenomenon is common to all sectors, including agriculture. Businesses in developing economies seize world class know-how to move straight to competing on a low cost/high quality basis. Meanwhile, businesses in developed economies are making incremental improvements to compete on a high cost/high quality basis.
Anyone who has attempted transformational change understands that it is extraordinarily difficult.
Mediocrity is your enemy and it is a powerful one.
Unfortunately, criticising excellence is one way that mediocrity gives itself satisfaction. Finding fault and cutting down tall poppies is a whole lot easier than transforming your own organisation or industry.
Being the virtuous critic has the added advantage of creating a handy distraction. The last thing the mediocre want is visibility on their own performance.
The next time you’re fielding criticism from the mediocre, remember that good leaders bring about transformation. Poor leaders only maintain and preserve long-standing mediocrity.
Until next week.