Everyone loves the idea of high standards—until they actually have to enforce them. The hard truth? Setting the bar high is uncomfortable, often unpopular, and demands tough decisions most leaders aren’t willing to make. Upholding excellence isn’t about giving inspiring speeches—it’s about having the guts to make cuts, call people out, and have the brutal conversations that most avoid.
Accepting mediocrity is more than lowering the bar; it’s waving a white flag that says “good enough” is okay. And here’s the problem: once that standard slips, good luck pulling it back up. Mediocrity spreads like a virus.
True leadership isn’t about making everyone happy. It’s about maintaining the standards that drive greatness, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it makes you unpopular. If you’re scared of making those tough calls, you’re not leading—you’re settling. And once you start settling, you're on the fast track to irrelevance.
So, ask yourself: Are you holding people to the standards they need to succeed, or are you coddling mediocrity because it’s easier? Because leaders who can’t enforce their own expectations aren’t leaders at all—they’re placeholders for progress.