No one wants to accept mediocrity, however everyone wants to fit people into a normal distribution. Are people who fall into the middle section of the normal distribution mediocre? or is everyone delusional in overestimating their own talent or their companies bar for talent?
Some context below from ChatGPT on what Mediocrity and normal distribution are. How do people fit the two together?. I totally understand there is always subjectivity in assessing talent, but it seems like everyone on LinkedIn is screaming for exceptional talent (and not mediocre), but at the same time place a bulk of their talent in the mediocre bucket of the normal distribution.
What is Mediocrity?
Mediocrity refers to the state or quality of being average or ordinary, lacking in exceptional ability, performance, or achievement. It is the opposite of excellence or greatness.
A mediocre person, product, or performance is one that is considered to be average or unremarkable. This can refer to anything from academic performance or work output to athletic ability or artistic talent. In some cases, mediocrity may be considered acceptable or even desirable, such as in situations where consistency or reliability is more important than exceptional performance. However, in many contexts, mediocrity is viewed negatively and can be a barrier to success or advancement.
It is important to note that mediocrity is not the same as failure. Mediocre performance or achievement may still be considered successful or satisfactory in some contexts, but it lacks the exceptional qualities that would make it stand out. Furthermore, many people who are initially mediocre at a particular skill or activity can improve with practice and dedication to become exceptional over time.
How do people assess talent in most companies?
In a normal distribution, which is a bell-shaped curve, the majority of people fall within the middle range of the distribution, which includes the average or mean score. This range is often referred to as the “average” or “typical” range, and it is where most people fall.
Therefore, it could be argued that mediocre people, who are considered to be average or ordinary in terms of their abilities or achievements, would fall within this middle range of the normal distribution. However, it is important to note that the exact location of this range can vary depending on the context and the specific distribution being examined.
It is also worth noting that the normal distribution is just one way of representing data and that not all data follows a normal distribution. Additionally, the concept of mediocrity is subjective and can vary depending on individual and cultural norms and expectations.