High Standards Without Crushing Commitment
Set high expectations while choosing support that preserves commitment.
The reframe: do not lower the bar; raise the clarity. Leaders often soften standards because they fear demotivating people, or they state standards harshly because they fear mediocrity. The better move is to keep the standard firm and vary the support. Commitment survives when people believe the goal matters and believe they can make progress toward it. Standards need a purpose line Tell people what the standard protects: customer trust, safety, quality, speed, fairness, or strategic credibility. Purpose turns a demand into a reason. Standards need a behavioral definition Labels like ownership, excellence, and urgency are not enough. Define the…
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