The normalisation of deviance

Have you heard of 'the normalisation of deviance' before Reader?

I confess I had to be reminded of it by my brilliant photographer friend Nick Rawle, via particularly astute Instagram reel, last week.

Sociologist Diane Vaughan introduced the phrase in her analysis of the 1986 Space Shuttle Disaster. The shorthand definition being that, within an organisation (in this instance NASA), the subtle, gradual erosion of standards, accepted principles and practices over time can lead to catastrophic outcomes.

Those minute deviances (over time) shift 'normal'. They lower the bar of 'acceptable'.

Tiny things that are easy to let go in the moment (the alternative being raising your hand – and no one likes to raise their hand!)

You may have witnessed 'tiny things' in the workplace:

• The first time a manager was a bit brusque with a team member and no one said anything ("because that's just how they are")
• That error in the big client proposal you were told not to fix ("because no one reads these things anyway")
• The 'values and mission statement' on the website that was added "to sound good" but was never anything more than cheap copy.

Or, in the case of the shuttle, a slow erosion of safety standards (because no one wanted to revisit the question "what should be acceptable?") that led to tragedy.

A gradual deviation (deviance) from what should have been a non-negotiable truth.

"That organisational toxicity doesn't apply to me... right?"

That very much depends on the stories you are telling yourself.

We can't always be our best self.
We can't always give 110% (stupid phrase).
We can't always shine at our brightest.

But the less we try, the more we stray from our unique and prized brilliance.
And I am not suggesting the exhaustive pursuit of perfectionism – that is a different kind of toxicity.

I'm just dangling these little questions for you to ponder today:

Raise your own hand. Challenge your own 'normal'.

Don't let yourself off THAT hook.

Mark Franklin, The Four Fears® Guy
​www.markfranklin.co.uk

"Mind Monkeys Welcome..." podcast now on Spotify | Apple | YouTube​

​​​​​​​

405 Thorney Leys, Witney, Oxfordshire OX28 5NR
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​