--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In organizations where nothing much…" description: "\"In organizations where nothing much happens regardless of whether you do something exceptional or just show up in the morning, the best people lose hea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/judith-m-bardwick-17540_common_in-organizations-where-nothing-much-happ_1993923.jpg" --- # In organizations where nothing much happens regardless of… ![“In organizations where nothing much happens regardless of whether you do something exceptional or just show up in the morning, the best people lose heart and motivation is reduced near the lowest common denominator.” quote by Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/judith-m-bardwick-17540_common_in-organizations-where-nothing-much-happ_1993923.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/judith-m-bardwick-17540_common_in-organizations-where-nothing-much-happ_1993923.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/judith-m-bardwick-17540_common_in-organizations-where-nothing-much-happ_1993923.jpg) > “In organizations where nothing much happens regardless of whether you do something exceptional or just show up in the morning, the best people lose heart and motivation is reduced near the lowest common denominator.” [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When effort feels meaningless, top talent disengages. **In simple terms:** Meaningless work demotivates high performers. Key Takeaway Create purpose‑driven roles. Themes motivation leadership engagement Mood concerned analytical Type professional inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - project assignments - career development Key Concepts organizational behavior psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders add meaning to routine tasks? - What incentives retain talent? A Different Perspective Not all environments can change quickly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common denominator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-denominator/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Lowest common denominator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lowest-common-denominator/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Organization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organization/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Desperate people lose the thing that makes them human beings. They lose their heart. Anger and hate fill them so that they act like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlene-j-chai/desperate-people-lose-the-thing-that-makes-them-human-beings-they/) [Arlene J. Chai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlene-j-chai/) > [“Passion is at the heart of your motivation. Let it fuel your spirit and feed your joy. It is your catalyst for courageous pursuits—and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/passion-is-at-the-heart-of-your-motivation-let-it-fuel-your-spirit/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“Desire. Enthusiasm. Purpose. Pleasure. Delight. Peace. Power. However you define passion, it is at the heart of your motivation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/desire-enthusiasm-purpose-pleasure-delight-peace-power-however-you/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [The lowest common denominator of the universe is both low and common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-lafferty-2/the-lowest-common-denominator-of-the-universe-is-both-low-and-common/) [R. A. Lafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-lafferty-2/) > [We have a lowest-common-denominator Christianity being taught in so many denominations that has produced a people who simply do not know some of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-mohler/we-have-a-lowest-common-denominator-christianity-being-taught-in-so/) [Albert Mohler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-mohler/) > [I don't connect accessibility with lowest common denominator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-piccinini/i-don-t-connect-accessibility-with-lowest-common-denominator/) [Patricia Piccinini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-piccinini/) > [It must not be true when the left tell us what they really want is to help and assist and elevate the little guy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-must-not-be-true-when-the-left-tell-us-what-they-really-want-is-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I don't believe in lowest common denominators. 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Why not expand our sights…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-think-that-regardless-of-our-culture-age-or-even-personal-handicaps/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [What happens in the Senate is the Republicans sink to the lowest common denominator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-demint/what-happens-in-the-senate-is-the-republicans-sink-to-the-lowest/) [Jim DeMint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-demint/) ## More by Judith M Bardwick > [Self is a construct, a feeling, an identity that is internal and can neither be given nor taken away by others. We develop and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/self-is-a-construct-a-feeling-an-identity-that-is-internal-and-can/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [... we know that productivity suffers when uncertainty is high. But we've failed to realize the equally destructive effects of too little anxiety. ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/we-know-that-productivity-suffers-when-uncertainty-is-high-but-we-ve/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [Trust is perhaps the most critical single building block underlying effectiveness. Without trust leaders do not have followers. Without trust, leaders are impotent despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/trust-is-perhaps-the-most-critical-single-building-block-underlying/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [Schools are generally feminine places, institutions where conformity is valued, taught largely by conformist women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/schools-are-generally-feminine-places-institutions-where-conformity/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [The balanced life is a goal, but for us it is mostly a myth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/the-balanced-life-is-a-goal-but-for-us-it-is-mostly-a-myth/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [Credibility is lost when there are big discrepancies between what leaders say and what they do. ... Increasing credibility requires openness. Hidden agendas will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/credibility-is-lost-when-there-are-big-discrepancies-between-what/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [The sense of loss of control over what happens to you at work (and thus in your life is vital). This further involves a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/the-sense-of-loss-of-control-over-what-happens-to-you-at-work-and/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [Nothing creates more self-respect among employees than being included in the process of making decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/nothing-creates-more-self-respect-among-employees-than-being-included/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [I was appalled at how children had become the focus and gravitational center of the nuclear family around which parents orbited instead of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/i-was-appalled-at-how-children-had-become-the-focus-and-gravitational/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [... there's a large core of powerlessness which is balanced against the unwritten contract that says that if you behave, you'll be okay. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/there-s-a-large-core-of-powerlessness-which-is-balanced-against-the/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [If the mood is overly anxious, then anxiety must be reduced by lowering uncertainty. Very simply, uncertainty is reduced when people are told what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/if-the-mood-is-overly-anxious-then-anxiety-must-be-reduced-by/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [The message to organizations is this: You have to increase the number of categories of contributing, or the types of career paths, which people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/the-message-to-organizations-is-this-you-have-to-increase-the-number/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [I think the characteristics of really effective leaders when people are frightened and depressed are the same qualities that leaders need when people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/i-think-the-characteristics-of-really-effective-leaders-when-people/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [Real confidence comes from knowing and accepting yourself- your strengths and your limitations -in contrast to depending on affirmation from others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/real-confidence-comes-from-knowing-and-accepting-yourself-your/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [The need for challenge, the need to burst through the constrictions of tasks and situations already seen and mastered, can affect anyone, even those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/the-need-for-challenge-the-need-to-burst-through-the-constrictions-of/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) [Explore all 37 Judith M Bardwick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) ## More Common quotes > [I'm Fine!, the most common LIE in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/punkinhead-abhishek/i-m-fine-the-most-common-lie-in-the-world/) [Punkinhead Abhishek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/punkinhead-abhishek/) > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [We find few historians who have been diligent enough in their search for truth; it is their common method to take on trust what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/we-find-few-historians-who-have-been-diligent-enough-in-their-search/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. 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