If you want everyone to clear the bar, just lower it, right?

Folks who embrace this fairy tale strategy won’t have a happy ending. They believe if you want to reduce complaints, don’t ask for feedback. If you want kids to have good self-esteem, offer praise — regardless of whether they do something right or wrong. And, if you want employees to feel good about their performance, don’t hold them accountable. In other words, instead of rewarding them based on performance, pay them for just showing up. They believe if you make everyone a winner, you won’t have losers. The problem is that lowering standards is a fool’s errand.

Taking down the “Out of Order” sign doesn’t fix the problem.

Meanwhile, what message are you sending to those who work hard, follow the rules, and do what’s right?

They’re the ones who bust their chops while their colleagues “work” on personal matters; they’re the ones who play by the rules while others game the system; and they’re the ones who give back to the community, while others sponge off it.

Instead of showcasing and rewarding excellence, you’re signaling that mediocre behavior is acceptable.

And that’s a problem.