I’ve seen this for 20 years across companies and leadership teams.

India doesn’t lack talent.
It lacks the courage to reward it.

We promote:

• Loyalty over Logic.
• Seniority over Skill.
• Obedience over Original Thinking.

People who stay late get praised.
People who question “why” get sidelined.
“Yes-men” rise faster than change-makers.

I’ve personally watched A-players get passed over because they made others uncomfortable.
And B-players rise because they knew how to play safe.

Blunt truth:
Mediocrity isn’t just accepted in India.
It’s protected. Promoted. Praised.
It knows how to play the game.

And excellence?
It either leaves or learns to stay silent.

39th out of 133 – That’s where India ranks on the Global Innovation Index 2024.
Behind countries with fewer people fewer resources, but more courage to reward ideas.

In high-performing cultures, dissent is a strength.
Here, it’s a threat.

If you’re building or leading, reward courage, not compliance.
Choose outcomes over optics.
Until then, we’ll keep losing our best.

Not to failure. But to frustration.

Mediocrity doesn’t fear failure.
It fears being exposed.

So ask yourself:
Are you protecting excellence or your comfort?