B2 – Upper Intermediate
Many people assume that success comes from following proven methods and sticking to what already works. At work, this often means copying industry standards, routines, and ways of thinking that everyone else accepts without question. The problem is that doing what most people do usually leads to average results, not real progress or innovation.
Watch the video to explore why challenging accepted norms can lead to very different outcomes.
Vocabulary Questions
- What does “automatic pilot” mean in the sentence, “Over 95% of our life, we run on automatic pilot”? Use it in a sentence.
- What does “industry standard” mean in the sentence, “The boundaries of this box, they are called industry standards, or industry norms”? Use it in a sentence.
- What does “hit a wall” mean in the sentence, “When people, teams, and organizations, whenever they hit a wall, they tend to do one of two things”? Use it in a sentence.
Discussion Questions
- Do you think people are generally comfortable following norms, even if those norms limit creativity? Why or why not?
- Can you think of an example where following the usual way of doing things led to poor results?
- Why might people be afraid to try “different things” instead of doing more or less of the same?
- Have you ever questioned a rule or standard at work or school? What happened?
- Do you believe extraordinary results require taking risks? Why or why not?