Average is Never a Team Value

It sounds ridiculous that average would be considered as a core value.  And it is ridiculous!!  So why does it show up in the behaviors of our people all too often?  Because it’s not talked about enough.

I (Cindy) believe we need to include in our messaging what average is and how every member of the team and every action we take is expected to be that of striving for excellence - never average.

How did one of the greatest coaches in history message this to his team?  

The John Wooden quote that sums it up well says, “Average is as close to the bottom as it is to the top.”  That gives us a pretty clear picture of what we do and do not want from our own performance.

I used to think no one wanted to be average.  Now, I believe plenty of people are okay with being average or less in their job performance.  Consider Quiet Quitting (the idea of doing just enough). That is not a new concept and has been around forever. Just study history and you’ll see it although your own experiences are likely coming to mind.

If there’s an underperformer in the team, it negatively affects every member of the team.  We are a team for a reason and each member has a responsibility.  Holding everyone in the team to a high standard of demonstrating the core values of the team, keeps the team performing above average.

However, when we fail to hold a standard, we establish new lower standards. Elite organizations hold a high standard of adherence to their core values.  They do not accept mediocrity and they do not look the other way when teammates come up short of expectations.

Take a moment to ask yourself a few questions.

1. What values are your team members demonstrating, expecting, practicing? 
2. Do you have agreed upon values & objectives and speak to them often?  If you do not speak to these values often, time will diminish them. 
3. Are you consistently communicating what your values are and routinely rewarding the individuals who are meeting and exceeding these values? 
4. How are you reminding your team that you each strive for excellence in all you do and are never just average?

Asking ourselves the right questions gives us fuel for continuous improvement and helps us stay on track. Ask yourself some tough questions today!