A brief comparison of courage, mediocrity, and recklessness

I had a discussion the other day about the line between courage and recklessness. This conversation led me to conclude that it might be helpful to share brief generalizations on what it looks like to act courageously versus settle for mediocrity versus acting recklessly. 

When it comes to being Strategic 

• Courageous – being willing to set an unpopular course (or choose a difficult to navigate path) because the evidence supports it is the right thing to do, and success is worth the short-term pain. Leveraging data to thoughtfully direct the path forward and then executing with unwavering commitment even when it gets hard or popularity further diminishes.

• Reckless- doing something because you want to, regardless of evidence that it is a good idea or clarity on how to get there; Ignoring or misrepresenting the data to support your point of view. When it gets hard, question other people’s strength and courage (motivation by fear could also occur).

• Mediocrity - maintaining the status quo because it’s the way it’s always been done. Looking to past success/data to support staying the course regardless of what is happening around you (looking always behind never forward).

When it comes to Communication

• Courageous- proactively and openly sharing information and respectfully asking tough questions with positive intent. Listening to questions/opinions of others with the goal to understand. Apologizing should you ever act like a jerk

• Reckless - saying whatever is on your mind without regard for impact, perception, or intended outcome; Listening so you can prepare your next point to defend your position against attack (I am right you are wrong thinking). Never apologizing because how they feel is their fault.

• Mediocrity -info is on a need-to-know basis, so if I need to know, someone will let me know. We never ask questions, or at least not meaningful ones. We listen to find the flaw to rally around when we chat at the water cooler. Preparing your apology in advance even though no offense could be taken since you didn’t really say anything.

In regards to Relationships

• Courageous- caring more about others than you do yourself and your actions support this belief; Creating balance and boundaries so you also take care of yourself; recognizing you can’t give to others if you have an empty tank.

• Reckless- people are a means to an end. As long as they serve a purpose keep them around, as soon as they don’t find someone who does. Balance is for scales, and I am trying to tip them in my favor; sacrificing boundaries (mine or others) will help me do that.

• Mediocrity- striving to be liked and not rock the boat because comfort/conformity is bliss. Believing the lie that you have a work self and a home self. Believing that what is happening at home shouldn’t impact your work. Teetering between anxiety over being out of balance and anxiety over being balanced (your balance must be a symptom your doing something wrong, right?).

Prioritization and Execution 

• Courageous-Aligning resources to enable flawless execution against the most essential things; the things that deliver the most impact in a sustainable way. Measuring ruthlessly to ensure impact is being achieved and making adjustments when it is not. Saying no to distractions, even the beautiful once in a lifetime ones.

• Reckless- trying to deliver on every great idea and potential opportunity believing that one of those bets is sure to pay off and when it does, $$$$. You will beg, borrow or steal resources and spread them thin all the time. A win at all cost mindset. There are no distractions, just a sea of potential opportunities.

• Mediocrity- continuously going after the same things using the same scorecard and same behaviors (maintain the status-quo and current reality) . Resources are managed with a set ‘em and forget ‘em mentality.

Driving Accountability 

• Courageous- holding yourself and others accountable as a way to deliver results and grow for the future; feedback is a gift not a weapon. It flows up and down and all around.

• Reckless- hold everyone but yourself accountable; it’s always someone else’s fault, and they need to be held accountable for their actions (or lack thereof); feedback is my hammer, and you are the nail. I am free to pound any nail below me in the hierarchy.

• Mediocrity- feedback and accountability, no thank you; they make me uncomfortable at best and are debilitating at worst. Isn’t knowing how I am doing the purpose of the annual review; once a year is plenty.

Implementing Change 

• Courageous- yes, with eyes towards a clearly defined future. Measured, proactive, and purposeful. You appreciate that change messes with peoples’ sense of security, so you don’t allow change to become the norm. Evolution is necessary for long-term sustained success, but it needs to be balanced with the needs of people.

• Reckless- Always, it is always a good time to change. And if we get the current change completed faster, we can be more ready for the next change. Change is the only constant, and the more we change, the more chances we create for success. People just need to be more comfortable with ambiguity; it’s just the new normal.

• Mediocrity- change only when we must and at the last minute because the old way could still prove to be right and valuable (please let that turn out to be true); we really don’t want to change. When change does happen, we will fight like heck to go back to the old way.

So What?

These are my observations from 27 years of work and 40 years of life. Maybe a few over-generalizations or a couple spots where your experiences have been different, but directionally these should be helpful as you think about the interactions you have in the workplace and how to recognize 

• courage so you can support it (or become the courageous one),

• mediocrity so you can fight it (or at least stop feeding into it), or

• recklessness so you can protect yourself (whatever that needs to look like).