A standard that changes isn't a standard

Workplace Multiplier by Tola Akinsulire

September 4, 2026

Welcome to the Workplace Multiplier newsletter. Published Monday to Friday, equipping you to achieve your professional goals faster and without burnout or overwhelm.

A standard that changes isn't a standard

Howdy ,

I have a final Trust Test for this week:

Just one...I don't want to overwhelm you if this is something that you are just discovering.

I am trying to build you a structure for the best parts of what your career success ladder can be like.

Let's go into it...

The Standard.

Do people know what "good" looks like around you?

And, more importantly, does good remain good regardless of who is involved?

Standards become untrustworthy when:

quality depends on whether the boss is checking;

rules change according to proximity or politics;

leaders tolerate privately what they condemn publicly;

today's emergency becomes permission to abandon yesterday's principles.

The cost is bigger than inconsistency.

People stop trusting the ground beneath them.

They spend energy reading personalities instead of reading standards.

And that destroys Rest.

Here is a useful question for this weekend:

What is one standard you claim matters deeply to you…but which becomes harder to defend when keeping it costs you something?

If something comes immediately to mind, reply with STANDARD.

You do not need to write an essay. Tell me what the standard is and where it is under pressure.

If it points to a consequential trust issue, we can examine it further.

Keep winning at work and in life.

Tola Akinsulire

Your Strategic Workplace Mentor