Enforcing Standards: The Tireless Work of a Leader

Things had gotten tough. No, that’s an understatement. Things had gotten really tough. Just a few months into our deployment to Iraq, casualties had mounted quickly. That somber fact was compounded by the harsh nature of the environment and the austere conditions many of our soldiers were living and operating in. So, at one remote outpost, the leaders in the platoon determined that they should loosen up with their guys. Take it easy, so-to-speak. After all, things had gotten really tough. The guys needed some slack. So, the leaders let up. And then it happened. While burning the platoon’s human waste one evening (as I said, it was a bit austere), a soldier unintentionally set himself on fire. Another casualty sent home with life-changing injuries. Except this one was self-inflicted.

Of course, in hindsight, we picked it all apart. How could this happen? Whose fault was it? Why? And the questions went on. The simple answer? Leadership failure. Leaders had stopped enforcing basic standards of discipline and conduct. The injured soldier wasn’t wearing any of the required protective equipment. Had he been wearing his flame-retardant combat uniform he might have been unharmed. But things had gotten really tough. So, shorts and t-shirts became the uniform of the day. Of course, that was just one of a long list of other contributing factors. But they all pointed at one main underlying issue: leaders had stopped enforcing the very standards that had been a hallmark of who they were. They had grown tired and then stopped leading.

Things today have gotten tough. No, that’s an understatement. Things have gotten really tough. It’s been almost a year since your world turned upside down. This somber fact is compounded daily by some new and unforeseen challenge. So, maybe you’ve decided you should loosen up on your people…

I know what you’re thinking. “Yeah, but that’s not what’s happening on our team.” Are you sure? I’m hearing it more and more. Leaders are reflecting on the past year. Many are coming to the realization that they stopped enforcing certain standards that they once highly valued as contributing factors to their organization’s success. Many stopped performing leadership functions that had once been part of their routine. Now they’re seeing a negative impact on the organization and it hurts.

For many, it feels like their team is heading in the wrong direction. It feels like the team is headed in a direction that leads to a destination far from one that the leader envisioned. A vision devoid of clearly defined and equally enforced standards will be hard to achieve. You will not arrive at your desired destination if you allow the team to behave in ways that are contrary to forward progress.

The past year has been exhausting. I get it. But you cannot afford to stop enforcing your team’s standards. Leaders who grow tired of enforcing the standards necessary for their team to thrive may wind up in a position to get plenty of rest. Leaders must never grow tired of holding their people accountable to high standards. In fact, when friction increases, so should the leader’s emphasis on enforcing standards of discipline and conduct.

Standards define the level of character or performance that each member of the team must maintain to be a productive member of the team. When leaders establish and enforce standards, they earn the trust and confidence of those they lead. But when team members realize that they or the other members of the team are not being held accountable, trust erodes.

You will not arrive at your desired destination if you allow the team to behave in ways that are contrary to forward progress.

Where do you and your team stand? Are standards slipping? If so, what actions can you take now to get the team back on track? Do an honest assessment and then share your findings with your leaders and your team. Avoid the inevitable self-inflicted wounds that ride on the heels of complacency. Re-commit to living up to your high standards. Your people will be better for it and their trust in you will increase.