The Standard is the Standard
"The Standard is the Standard."
This quote from a leader I admire has stayed with me, and it’s something I believe many leaders fail to fully understand. The attitude, performance, and culture of your team, teachers, or even the people you serve are reflections of your leadership. It’s easy to blame the challenges on others—on difficult team members, stakeholders, or even the environment—but real leadership requires a hard look in the mirror. We must ask ourselves: are we clearly communicating the vision and expectations? Are we consistently upholding those standards? And most importantly, are we modeling the behavior we expect to see?
When we establish a standard, it isn’t just about setting a rule or a policy. It’s about teaching and demonstrating what living by those expectations looks like every single day. Whether it’s guiding employees on where to park or upholding a dress code, we can’t communicate a policy, witness a violation, and then shy away from addressing it. It takes courage to enforce the standards you set, especially when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular. But bending the rules for convenience’s sake sends a message that everything is negotiable, that there’s no real standard at all.
You can’t lead from the shadows. You can’t hide behind emails or stay comfortable behind your desk when things get tough. Real leadership is about stepping into the fray, especially in challenging environments, hostile situations, or moments of tension. It’s about being willing to enforce the rules, even when it’s difficult. In my experience, many leaders shy away from confrontation because it’s uncomfortable, preferring to lead from a distance rather than engage directly. But leadership isn’t about comfort—it’s about growth.
I learned this lesson firsthand as an athlete. The days that were the hardest—the days when I was exhausted, sore, and frustrated with my coach—were the days that made me stronger, faster, and better. It wasn’t until I saw the results—improved times, a stronger body, greater confidence—that I truly appreciated those challenging moments. And it’s the same in leadership. It’s not about being liked in the moment; it’s about setting a standard, enforcing it, holding people accountable, and helping them grow beyond their comfort zones. It’s about coaching them to be better, even when it’s tough.
People will always test boundaries; it’s human nature. If you give an inch, they will see how far they can push. And the problem is, we live in a world where confrontation is often avoided at all costs. But the truth is, there’s no growth in comfort. Systems and standards are put in place for a reason—they’re designed to help the organization succeed, not just to make people happy or comfortable. Once those systems are established and everyone understands what’s expected, then we can focus on creating a positive and supportive environment. But without that foundation, the culture becomes chaotic, and the mission is compromised.
Too many leaders want to be liked rather than respected. They avoid tough conversations and shy away from enforcing the rules, hoping to maintain harmony. But real harmony, real success, comes from everyone knowing what’s expected and being held accountable. It comes from a culture where standards aren’t just words on a page but lived and enforced daily.
Leadership is about more than just setting the vision—it’s about doing the work, having the tough conversations, and being the example. It’s about understanding that discomfort is part of growth and that true leaders aren’t afraid to step into it. It’s about knowing that while everyone might not like the standard at first, over time, they will respect it—and you—for holding them to it. Because in the end, the standard is the standard. And it’s up to us, as leaders, to ensure it stays that way.