Why Leaders Should Lower the Bar
Let’s be honest – lowering the bar sounds counterproductive, especially in a productivity-centric culture such as the US.
But, when leaders lower the bar, they often get more, not less. Here's why.
Less is more.
Fewer goals means higher focus and higher quality. Simplify. Instead of asking “what else can we do?” try asking: “what can we subtract?”
The team may actually start sooner.
Lowering the bar is a way to start small to make the project or task less daunting. Starting can be hard, and lowering the bar makes it easier to just start.
The team might go even further
Because you started sooner, and you experienced success sooner and more easily, you just may have more energy to keep going. By setting the bar lower at the start, you can accomplish more than you would have otherwise.
How to Actually Lower the Bar
Leaders can just say no to the frantic "more more more" that leads to unsustainable work cultures. Here are three essential questions to help you lower the bar.
What is the minimum viable product here?
Rather than thinking about the best something could be, ask what the minimum is that it could be to function and meet the goals for the team, organization, or customers.
What can be subtracted here?
Often, pieces get added in over time to goals, plans, documents, roles, etc., and they end up looking like patchwork quilts. What can get subtracted from those areas to simplify and support more focus? How can you bring things back to basics?
Where and how are our expectations too high?
Disappointment is simply the gap between expectations and reality. Where do we let our expectations get too high, beyond the reach of reality? What would happen if we lowered our expectations as we traveled the path toward our ultimate goal?
A final thought: You're probably someone who has valued achievement and success. Lowering the bar might feel like you’re slacking off, but you’re not. It’s a leadership skill. Lowering the bar creates more success for you and your team.
How can you start lowering the bar? There IS a way to do this that maintains your values for success and quality.
