Leadership Insight: A Need to return to the Ethic of Excellence.

by Michael Josephson on December 17, 2012

Isn?t it interesting that we tend to use the words ?exceptional? and ?extraordinary? to describe all-out efforts and quality performance?

In far too many places leaders have allowed the pursuit of adequacy to replace the pursuit of excellence. ?In too many organizations, the culture supports mediocrity and makes it harder to expect and demand best efforts and best performance. What happened to the ethic of excellence?

The focus on compliance rather than values, on doing what is required rather than doing what is right, is just one example of minimalism, but there are others.

Performance reviews are rarely sincere and rigorous. reviewers and HR professionals often seem more concerned about making a record and avoiding conflict or confrontation than in challenging employees to really improve their knowledge and skills. To do better.

Many organizations promoting people because they?ve been waiting in line the longest rather than because they are the best people to do the best job.

In many areas including, police work and medicine, we often see a focus on doing the thing that involves the least legal risk. In my police trainings we use the phrase ?lawful but awful.?

Have you seen other examples? Any suggestions on how to return to the ethic of excellence?

Tagged as: adequacy, excellence, minimalism

Source: http://josephsoninstitute.org/business/blog/2012/12/leadership-insight-a-need-to-return-to-the-ethic-of-excellence/

christine will ferrell double fine adventure turbo tax katharine mcphee cold mountain valentines day ideas