Don’t Fall Prey to Mediocrity
By VICKY BROWN
You know, the word mediocre started as a term used in mountain climbing. The literal translation is ‘middle of the rock’. They’re talking about climbers who stop halfway up because summiting is just too hard and they don’t think it’s worth it.
Are you, your team, or your business falling prey to mediocrity?
Listen, I get it – there is always so much going on, so much to do, so much to take in. Sometimes ‘going the extra mile’ just feels like too much. Why not go half a mile and leave it at that?
And yes, as evidenced in past episodes, I’m among the first ones to talk about excellence, and going for it in everything you do. And again, yes – that can wear you out, if you’re striving for excellence every second of every day. But is the opposite really to just take your foot off the gas in the middle of the road? And do you want that for your team?
Humans need stimulation, when we get overtired with doing or seeing the same thing over and over, our brain kind of glazes over and we get mentally ‘stuck’. By the way – that’s why you should change your environment every once in a while, and take vacations, or even walks.
So, if you want to be sure your team is staying sharp, and on top of things – I’ve got a few unconventional tips that you, as a leader, can use to prevent mediocrity from seeping into your team.
Failure Fridays. That’s right – implement Failure Fridays – talk about shaking things up. Try dedicating a specific time, such as Friday afternoons, for team members to share their failures and what they learned from them. And it doesn’t have to be doom and gloom – make it fun. Maybe even award a prize for the biggest lesson – or even better, give the winner a crown. I love crowns!
OK, but I digress. When you hold Failure Fridays, it helps normalize failure as a part of the learning process and encourages risk-taking and innovation. And when the team openly discusses failures, ten they can learn and grown, collectively. This goes a long way toward reducing the freezing fear of making mistakes. And as a bonus – it promotes the whole continuous improvement thing.
“Once you lick the lollipop of mediocrity, you’ll suck the rest of your life.”
Elias Amash
You could implement rotational leadership roles. Why not let team members take on leadership roles on a rotating basis. Nothing gets the mental electrons zooming like being thrust into a leadership role. And it gives the team members a broader perspective and sense of ownership. All the while developing their leadership skills.
Talk about breaking the monotony – rotational leadership really encourages everyone to contribute their best, because who knows. They might be in a leadership position next.
Try a No Meeting Day. Everyone is so interrupted, all the time, that no one has time for deep, focused work. Just imagine – working on a project from beginning to end – without interruptions! When you create a No Meeting Day, you give your team time to focus. That sense of accomplishment is amazing at raising spirits, and motivating the team. And it can boost both productivity and innovation – imagine that. The team with time and space to think critically – without constant interruptions!
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And speaking of innovation. Why not host Innovation Days. These are specific days where team members can work on passion projects, or brainstorm new ideas outside their usual responsibility. It sparks creativity and can lead to breakthroughs that might not happen during regular work routines. And don’t forget about the sense of excitement and engagement it brings to the team.
And if you’re doubting – have a talk with Target, or Electronic Arts, or even IKEA. They all have carved out time for various departments to focus on development and innovation.
Encourage Reverse Mentorship. Create a reverse mentorship program where junior team members mentor senior leaders. This can open everyone up to fresh perspectives and new ideas. And it helps to break down barriers and promote a continuous learning culture. The junior team members are empowered, and the senior leaders get to see them in a whole new light – and they might even discover some innovative solutions that might otherwise be overlooked.
So, how do you avoid mediocrity – well, create a dynamic and engaging work environment. That will actively combat mediocrity and keep everyone’s mental juices flowing.