ONE DOWN, UNLIMITED MORE TO GO

"Science becomes dangerous only when it imagines that it has reached its goal."

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish writer.

I wonder what he meant by dangerous? 

Lazy, lethargic, complacent and similar I understand, but dangerous? 

Not so sure.

Unless he refers to the danger in becoming those things because you feel you've achieved your goal.

If so this applies to management as well.

Achieving your goals only means one thing is done, another about to begin.

YOU COULD BE DOING TOO WELL

"A full cup must be carried steadily."

English proverb

Prosperity is a funny thing.

Becoming complacent regarding what you have can cause you to lose it.

No Movement Is Movement, Backwards

"Least he should wander from the right path, he stands still."

William Hazlitt

18th century British essayist

Inertia

Possibly the most difficult power in the universe to overcome.

Laziness: What Would Monty Burns Do?

"Look at them, Smithers. Goldbrickers.. Layabouts.. Slug-a-beds! Little do they realize their days of suckling at my teat are numbered."

Montgomery Burns
The Simpsons

Being a cartoon character Mr. Burns can simply fire those he feels are lazy "Slug-a-beds" but what about the rest of us? How do you determine what is acceptable performance and when you have an employee that does not meet that standard what do you do? I understand the need to document behavior prior to termination presuming it comes to that but I'm more interested in what (if?) you do to remedy the situation.