The Collusion of Mediocrity – background

I first noticed the collusion of mediocrity in a restaurant. A friend’s starter came and was not what they ordered. When the waiter offered to change my friend replied: “No, it’s fine. I’ll have this.” It soon became clear it was not what they really wanted. On another occasion one of our party remarked that…

Why Do We Collude?

Does Collusion Make Sense? Collusion, in a lot of ways, is very understandable. Avoiding the “zone of discomfort,” by risking the very discomfort that often makes honesty possible, keeps us in a state of emotionally, and even physical, safety. Mediocrity can be seen and experienced as the price worth paying for maintaining a status quo…

More About Collusions

Collusions can be conscious – we can choose to collude and we can KNOW we are colluding. This may be out of a sense of helplessness or because we apply a rule which goes something like this: It may be better to collude when the damage done by breaking a collusion is greater than the…

Collusive personal or work projects

Projects – be they work or personal life projects often fail to deliver on their original objectives because they operate as a collusion of mediocrity. In order to avoid discomfort DURING the project, any attempt to challenge of the non-delivery against the original dream, vision, goals or objectives is diluted or minimised. It becomes acceptable…

Ego and the Small Business

Here’s a paradox: It is ego that often launches a successful new business, realising the vision of a single individual or small group and turning into an energetic, fast growth enterprise. It is also ego that can kill off a struggling business, stopping it from changing, recovering and redefining itself. Without the strong will, focus…

Collusion Levels

These are the levels of collusion in the “collusion of mediocrity” model. Each level can be experienced on its own, and one or more level can be operating at the same time. The labels are deliberately provocative to get the brain cells buzzing! I’ve hinted at resolutions for each level, but these are only mentioned…

Collusion – a short scene

 Note I wrote this short scene, which has been performed many times in companies and public organisations over the last ten years, in order to get to the heart of collusion in organisational life. It’s based on real comments I heard after a leadership workshop. Feel free to use it in your own sessions and…

The Collusion of Mediocrity Poem

The collusion of mediocrity, A tease. A dance of non- Challenge, seeking safe Harbours at Honesty’s expense. In relief at escape From another day’s Truth, in soothing Saying of mock-praise, A reward for Criticism avoided. The collusion of mediocrity Will please. Reward for A neatness of nicety To deflect the naming Of knowing and telling…

The Four Levels of Collusion with quirky quotes

The Four-level Collusion of Mediocrity   Level 1 – Fake Niceness Level 2 – False Revelation Level 3 – Diluting Level 4 – Reverting and Fading     If the damage done by breaking a collusion, or moving up a level in the model, is greater than the benefit gained, then it may be better…

The Collusion of Mediocrity – basic notes

So, here’s the collusion of mediocrity in a nutshell: It is this…an often unspoken agreement to avoid discomfort through avoidance of real honesty and challenge – the result is mediocrity – something less than was there in potential. I sometimes characterise it like this as well: “I’ll praise you if you don’t challenge me”. Do…

Levels of Collusion-Breaking – some notes/guidelines

Collusion Breaking   Respectful collusion breaking always seeks permission 1. to break a collusion 2. for the level of collusion breaking allowed   The dialogue is then adjusted accordingly   Generic Collusion Breaking May I be honest here? May I speak openly?   Semi-specific Collusion Breaking May I be honest about the service here? May…