Avoid the Drift to Mediocrity
Ralph Kison
Empowering and developing technical professionals and organizations through leadership development, coaching, and advisory services.
How do things go from good to acceptable to mediocre? Usually gradually and through neglect or indifference. The little steps that can make things better, such as wiping the counter after making lunch, cleaning the tub after a bath, or toasting the bagel to make it taste better, are stopped or avoided. It only takes a few seconds or minutes at most, but we’re “too busy.” The result is we work from a dirty counter or tub and have a bagel that’s OK, but not great. This may be fine when it happens at home because it only impacts us there. But what happens when this attitude is transferred to our company or job? Well, the bar drops and, usually, it keeps dropping. Eventually, the effort to turn things around is too much so we don’t bother, and besides no one is really complaining. The result is that mediocrity has been normalized and average is the new benchmark.
An example is when a freelance consultant, independent tradesperson, or outsourced IT technician provides commodity work for cheap and finds customers who will buy.
That’s when an entrepreneur or business owner like you—trying to compete—is finally worn down by the pressure to do a bit less, care a little less, and follow the mass market where it seems to want to go.
That only works until it doesn’t. It’s when a new competitor sets us back on our heels because they offer more products or services than we do at the same or lower price and with more features or value.
You can’t be different unless you really are different. You’re not better unless you can prove it not by what you say, but by what you offer.
You can remain average and stay in business as long as you have enough customers who keep buying from you. In a big firm, it might work if the majority of employees acquiesce. (Why bother, it won’t matter. No one really cares. I tried before and nothing changed.) But, if one or two people stand up and say, “Not on my watch,” things could change for the better. (The film, The Power of One, which is based on South African Bryce Courtenay's life, is a great example of what one person can accomplish.)
Moving beyond average takes courage and the willingness to challenge the status quo and be contrarian. In the end, it’s the only thing that will set you apart from others.
If you are looking to differentiate yourself and find committed followers, you must determine what you offer that has value and will benefit those seeking someone like you and your unique or specialized expertise. I’ve always found that a great starting point or refresher is Simon Sinek’s Start With Why TED Talk. Another one is Donald Millar’s Story Brand . ?
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"There is always a heavy demand for fresh mediocrity. In every generation, the least cultivated taste has the largest appetite." ~ Paul Gauguin
"All good is hard. All evil is easy. Dying, losing, cheating, and mediocrity is easy. Stay away from easy." ~ Scott Alexander
"I am uncompromising to the point of huge dissension in the studio. And it's served me very well. My theory and my philosophy is, 'Compromise breeds mediocrity.'" ~ David Foster
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