High Standards Drive Results

Anne Mahlum shares her experience of how setting high expectations and maintaining standards, even in challenging circumstances like working with homeless individuals, leads to better outcomes. She believes in the power of clear expectations and refusing to lower standards due to someone's circumstances.

Key Points:

• Setting Clear Expectations:

  • Made participants sign contracts committing to showing up 3 days a week
  • Required punctuality and positive attitudes
  • Demanded respect and support for teammates

• Refusing to Lower Standards:

  • Didn't say "just show up if you can" or "try not to be too late"
  • Set firm principles: if you can't agree to expectations, don't join
  • Created clear consequences: failure to meet standards meant getting kicked off the team

• Building Community Through Standards:

  • Established rule that nobody finishes alone
  • Required team members to support struggling participants
  • Created sense of group accountability

• Quality Over Circumstances:

  • Got new shoes donated instead of used ones to avoid creating hierarchy
  • Treated participants with respect and dignity
  • Focused on capabilities rather than limitations

• Results of High Standards:

  • People responded positively to being held accountable
  • Participants "sat up straighter" when hearing expectations
  • Created environment where people felt capable of excellence

• Leadership Philosophy:

  • "People were waiting for someone to tell them they were capable of excellence"
  • Clear expectations create better outcomes
  • Don't diminish standards out of sympathy or circumstances