■ A fortnightly business advice column by Whakatāne accountant and business adviser, Jason Lougher

Young teenagers, suited up for their end-of-season football awards. Polished speeches. Firm handshakes. Quiet pride. But before the applause and trophies, the coach stood to speak.

It was powerful. He spoke about pride. Professionalism. What it means to lead with respect. He didn’t sugar-coat anything.

He held them to a higher standard and not only did the player know it, us the supporters, we felt it. Because all season long, that’s what he’d been doing.

Not just showing up to coach a game, but building a culture. A belief that how you carry yourself matters.

On the field, off the field, with your teammates, your opposition, your community. The boys didn’t roll their eyes. They stood taller. They clapped for each other.

They gave speeches like young men who understood they were part of something bigger.

And I couldn’t help thinking: what if more businesses worked this way?

Too often, we expect the bare minimum and get exactly that.

We blame it on staff shortages, motivation, or “kids these days”. But maybe the issue isn’t them. Maybe it’s what we expect of them. That coach expected professionalism. He expected presence. He expected pride. He communicated it clearly. Then he backed his team to deliver. And they did.

It reminds me, in my own businesses, that we all can do better. Not by doing more, but by expecting better and leading more intentionally.

■ Raising the bar at work
You don’t need more pressure or micromanagement. What you need is clarity. Here are three ways I’ve seen local business owners lift standards without burning people out:

■ Set expectations early
Whether it’s a new apprentice or a casual contractor, don’t leave your values unspoken. Be upfront: “This is how we show up here. This is what matters”. Spell it out.

■ Keep the standard visible
Your team meeting isn’t just an update. It’s a chance to reinforce what good looks like. A quick, “This is what went well this week” keeps the bar in sight.

■ Model it yourself
If you show up late or disorganised, your team notices. Culture isn’t what you write on a wall. It’s what you walk past without correcting and what you demonstrate under pressure.

■ Small towns, big visibility
In a place like Whakatāne, values aren’t hidden behind corporate glass. Your team are neighbours. They coach the same junior teams. They see each other in the supermarket, at the boat ramp, on the school run.

That means your business culture doesn’t stay “internal.” It shows up in the way your people interact, carry themselves, and talk about work outside of it. It shapes how others see your business and how your team see themselves.

I’ve seen local teams transform just from simple changes. One trade firm started Monday mornings with a five-minute stand-up, not to run through jobs, but to talk about what they were proud of the previous week.

Within a month, attitudes shifted. People started getting excited, backing each other, and speaking up more. It wasn’t about policing behaviour it was about lifting belief.

Sometimes you’re not just employing someone. You’re giving them their first taste of what leadership feels like. And the standards you set will stick with them long after they’ve clocked out.

■ The standard you walk past
Most business owners I meet aren’t short on passion. But passion without standards leads to burnout. High standards, backed by belief and consistency? That’s where performance lives.

So, if things feel flat, or you’re constantly putting out fires (I’ve been there) ask yourself:

■ What standard have I really set?
■ Have I made it clear?
■ And do I walk it myself?

People rise to meet the bar they believe they’re meant to clear. Set the tone. Make the speech. Hold the line.

What are you expecting and are your team proud to meet it?

■Jason Lougher is the owner of Calc Business Advisors & Chartered Accountants. Our team advise businesses throughout the Eastern Bay of Plenty - and across New Zealand. Like this article or want to chat? Feel free to send me an email: [email protected]