When leaders drive teams to a higher standard of performance, they must recognize that, in terms of standards, it is which of the following?

• A. It's what you enforce
• B. It's what you tolerate
• C. It's what you measure
• D. It's what you reward

Answer: (B)

The standard a team follows is defined by what you will tolerate. If you allow constant missed deadlines or sloppy work without consequence, that tolerance becomes the real line of acceptable performance. To lift standards, you must reject those low levels and set explicit expectations, address issues promptly, and follow through with consequences or coaching as needed. Measuring progress and rewarding improvement are important tools, but they work within the boundary you’ve refused to tolerate. By clearly signaling what is and isn’t acceptable, you create a new baseline that drives higher performance.