Mar 26, 2025
Quiet Leadership
Change doesn’t come from a reorg or a new title on a slide.
It comes from the person who says, “This isn’t good enough,” and then does something about it. Quietly. Consistently. Without waiting for permission. That’s what standards are—choices made over and over, even when they’re inconvenient, invisible, or unpopular.
The real power isn’t in setting high standards. It’s in holding them when no one’s watching. When shortcuts are easier. When mediocrity is the norm. That’s where most people cave. They look around, see no one else pushing, and assume it’s not worth the fight.
But it is.
Every time someone sticks to their standard, it makes space for someone else to do the same. Not with big declarations, but with small acts of defiance against the average.
The more people who hold the line, the easier it becomes to draw a new one.
It comes from the person who says, “This isn’t good enough,” and then does something about it. Quietly. Consistently. Without waiting for permission. That’s what standards are—choices made over and over, even when they’re inconvenient, invisible, or unpopular.
The real power isn’t in setting high standards. It’s in holding them when no one’s watching. When shortcuts are easier. When mediocrity is the norm. That’s where most people cave. They look around, see no one else pushing, and assume it’s not worth the fight.
But it is.
Every time someone sticks to their standard, it makes space for someone else to do the same. Not with big declarations, but with small acts of defiance against the average.
The more people who hold the line, the easier it becomes to draw a new one.
About Max Antonov
I’m Max, a father of two, Product Director & Product Coach from Sydney. I write about leadership, product management
and life.
Feel free to reach out: [email protected].
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