Use High Standards to Motivate Employees

Employees constantly watch their leaders to understand what kind of people they are.

So one of the most important things leaders can do is to insist on high standards. While low standards lead to low commitment, high standards are energizing, even for the most self-motivated employees.

But choose your arenas carefully. If you demand perfection in every aspect of performance, you’ll come across as a tyrannical nitpicker.

Choose one or two things you want to be known for, such as always being prepared for meetings, insisting on product quality, or supporting excellent customer service.

Whatever the standard is, consistently uphold it and demand it of others.

Adapted from “Followers Don’t See Their Leaders as Real People,” by Nathan T. Washburn and Benjamin Galvin