10 Tips for Avoiding Mediocrity in the Workplace

Tips for Avoiding Mediocrity

1. Lead by Example

As a manager, one of the best ways to discourage mediocrity in the workplace is to model excellence in your own work. Lead by example. If your work is left incomplete and you miss deadlines regularly, your staff will quickly learn that this behavior is acceptable and model it in their own work.



2. Follow Through on Commitments

Your staff will look up to you as a manager. If you commit to doing something, you should do your absolute best to accomplish what you commit to doing. If you are consistently dropping the ball – especially with no explanation – your staff will begin to feel comfortable doing the same thing in their work.

3. Clearly Articulate Expectations

It is very difficult as a manager to hold your team accountable when you do not clearly communicate your expectations to them. Without clearly articulating your expectations, you will find yourself constantly battling with your staff over misunderstandings and missed deadlines. Your team will feel disconnected, and when your goals are missed, your teams will blame you, and you will blame your teams.

4. Hire for Attitude

One of the hardest things to do in business is hire good employees. A challenge lies in finding a candidate with the skills necessary to do the job. Once that employee is hired, however, deficiencies in attitude are harder to overcome than deficiencies in skills. An employee with a good attitude is far more likely to be willing to study and learn new skills. When hiring, first look for candidates with the skills you need, but do not overlook a candidate with an attitude of excellence who is willing to learn new skills.

5. Keep Lines of Communication Open

Open communication is crucial in any workplace. Building a culture where employees and managers regularly communicate makes difficult conversations less daunting. Managers can foster this environment by holding frequent one-on-one meetings with their staff. These meetings should follow a simple agenda, with ample time dedicated to open dialogue.

6. Call Out Laziness

While often linked to laziness, mediocrity in performance and attitude should be addressed directly and promptly before it escalates. This is important even if the root cause isn't simple laziness; there may be underlying issues that are easier to resolve than the apparent lack of effort.

7. Expect Mutual Accountability

A team-wide effort is essential to combat mediocrity. Each team member should hold their colleagues accountable for fulfilling their obligations and working efficiently. This expectation of mutual accountability should be a core part of the team's culture.

8. Set Achievable Goals

Effective managers and leaders need to set realistic, attainable goals. Overburdening employees with excessive workloads or demanding unreasonable results quickly demotivates them, often leading to poor work quality and a decline in team morale. For employees to take goals seriously and strive to achieve them, those goals and expectations must be achievable and realistic.

9. Encourage Lifelong Learning

A culture of excellence thrives on continuous learning. Team members should have opportunities to expand their knowledge and be encouraged to do so. While some individuals are self-motivated learners, others benefit from a structured training plan with clearly defined expectations.

10. Incentivize Innovation

The most effective way to combat mediocrity is to cultivate a workplace where employees are motivated to succeed. This can be achieved through various forms of encouragement, including bonuses, recognition, and praise. Innovation, a key driver of success, generates new ideas and solutions. A team that fosters innovation naturally develops a mindset of excellence and rejects mediocrity.