Good Isn’t Good Enough

You’re busting your ass
working on a project
that goes above and beyond
your job duties.

Then your coasting co-worker,
the gal who is barely doing her job,
gets a “Good Job”
from your boss
and you think
“Why the hell am I busting my hump
when all I have to do to get recognition
is my job?”

Has this happened to you?
It has happened to me.
I still busted my hump
because that is who I am
but my impression of my team wasn’t great.

Terry Starbucker
has a brilliant post

on why good isn’t good enough.

“Leaders cannot overpraise work
that is just meeting the job description
and standards,
and nothing more.
It sends a signal that
“good” is enough,
and it can quickly lead to complacency.”

Praise over-achievement,
not ‘good enough.’