Quality: The Key to Growth and Excellence

Quality is one of the most important aspects of any work.

However, the challenge is that everyone has a different perception of what "high quality" means.

From my experience, quality is something we grow into over time - it’s both a personal trait and a skill that develops through exposure, attention, and iteration.

Quality is an Iterative Process

We don’t start out producing high-quality work.

As kids, we do assignments at school, and they meet a certain standard. As we progress, we produce more work, get feedback, and (ideally) improve. This cycle of delivering, receiving feedback, observing better examples, and iterating is how we develop higher standards.

But growth in quality depends on two things:

1. Our personal traits – Do we actually pay attention to feedback? Do we analyze and learn from better work? Are we critical and reflective about our own results?

2. Our exposure – Are we surrounded by high-quality work? If we only see average work, we may assume that’s the standard.

These two factors determine whether we remain at an average level or continuously improve.

Exposure to High Standards is Critical

One of the biggest challenges is that our definition of quality is shaped by what we see around us.

If we are only exposed to mediocre work, we may think that’s the best we can do.

But when we see extraordinary work - something far beyond what we’ve ever done before - it forces us to rethink our standards.

For example, if someone has only seen basic PowerPoint presentations, they may assume that’s how presentations are supposed to look. But if they are exposed to presentations from top consulting firms, where slides are refined to perfection because they influence million-dollar decisions, their perception of quality shifts.

This is why exposure matters.

The more we see exceptional work, the more we understand what’s possible.

And if we pay attention, analyze, and try to replicate that level, we naturally raise our own standards.

The Struggle of Recognizing Low Standards

For me, one of the hardest things is seeing work that makes me think, "Is this really the best you can do?" Is it a lack of effort? A lack of awareness? Or is this just the person's current quality level?

When leading a team, it’s important to understand the actual quality standards of your team. What are they capable of? Where is their potential?

If there’s room for improvement, the key is not just telling people to do better, but exposing them to better work. When they see what’s possible, they can start imitating, iterating, and improving. Slowly, their standards rise.

Quality is Built Over Years

Quality is not just a skill - it’s a lifelong habit. If someone constantly analyzes, learns, and refines their work for 10, 20, or 30 years, they will develop incredibly high standards.

But if they stay comfortable with "good enough," their growth stops.

So, quality comes down to:

1. Paying attention – Being analytical, critical, and always looking for ways to improve.

2. Exposure – Seeing high-quality work, recognizing the difference, and raising personal standards accordingly.

When we combine these, we naturally evolve toward excellence.