Mediocre: of only ordinary quality, barely adequate, rather poor/inferior
Imagine if you eliminated the mediocre employees from your workplace? Instead of an ok company, you’d at least have the possibility to become a GREAT company. The question I come back to constantly is………… WHY WOULDN’T YOU WANT A GREAT COMPANY???? Why settle? Well I’ve come up with some answers.
Imagine a very successful company, that found a niche in the market place that very few others are currently tapping, they’ve established financial credibility, and during one of the worst economic declines in years this company made more money than ever? Would they be looking to change anything? Probably not. Why mess with a good thing right? Of course whether you are the owner of this company or one of the employees would dramatically change your answer.
I believe that in this company referenced above that the owner has become content, the company basically runs on auto-pilot, makes literally millions, and he does not have to interact with the day to day chaos, so why would he want to clean house and start over? He enjoys, dare I say even embraces the mediocre employee, as these are the ones that make the greatest “Yes men”, they would NEVER state the obvious, nor would they ever go against what the owner thinks. The mediocre employee always allows the boss to look like the hero, the answer man, the solver of all the issues. (This also leads the the mediocre employees never being accountable or responsible if they ultimately don't have to make decisions)
Mediocre employees actually cost a company money. They're the lazy employees of the company, they excel at expending the least amount of effort to get something done. Tolerating mediocre employees in a company setting will always lead to discord, and eventually losing the exceptional employees. If there is tolerance for mediocrity in the workplace, then a negative company culture has already been established.
Sadly mediocrity in the work place breeds contempt. It systematically destroys the self esteem and confidence of individuals who are exceptional. The extraordinary employees will eventually leave and or lose their drive. Some may even fall into sync with the rest of the mediocre crew. Mediocrity encourages hard working employees to begin to feel used, and eventually the will slack off. Even the most diligent employee who refuses to deliver less than their best eventually will start to feel they only need to put in the minimal effort, since others are slacking off and still being rewarded.
The leaders, supervisors, VP’s are the very core of key people, and if there is mediocrity within these ranks, it is best to clean house. They are making high salaries, and need to be held accountable. If these are the people who are mediocre in the company how can it be expected for those employees under them to perform at the top of their game. Why would they? The lowest paid employees actually have the greatest affect on a company’s bottom line as they are in fact the ones interacting daily with the clients.
Wouldn’t it make sense to put extraordinary leaders in place? Wouldn’t it make sense to clean house? Wouldn't it make sense to reward and place value on your exceptional employees?
If a company on auto-pilot is profiting financially, imagine having extraordinary employees and a synergy created enabling it to become a phenomenal company?
Are there jobs out there encouraging and rewarding the dedicated, and exceptional employees? Or as a society have we embraced mediocrity?
