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Message for May

PEER PRESSURE

I have been for many years a diligent student of various aspects of motivation – for different individuals are motivated by a variety of factors – some by pride and self-worth, others by money or material considerations, and of course, yet others, by fear or the powers of superior persuasion.

However, over these years, I have observed that the most powerful and sustained motivating power, comes from being one of a peer group of performers, of ability and achievement. If a peer is defined to be of equal skill or status, then the driving force becomes the achievements the peer or the peer group accomplishes which becomes the bench-mark.

Even in class rooms, or in sporting circles, the levels achieved by the best of the group tend to provide the bench-marks for the peer-members. If they are poor performers, the group level comes down, if they are excellent, the average level rises. Man, being a social animal, an element of ‘Keeping up with the Joneses’ does play a significant part in matching achievement with those levels reached, by the group, of which, one is a member.

This is one of the prime reasons i.e. Peer Status that one selects Schools, Universities or professions to enter, as the cachet that peer groups, provide, over the years, to institutions, in turn, attracts the more serious talent to such environments. A ‘brand’ is then built up, which is self-perpetuating so long as it continues to signify and deliver the perceptions of quality associated with it.

It is also interesting to note how industrial or technology clusters – or peer groups of a corporate kind – can create contiguous geographical areas of excellence. Silicon Valley and Bangalore to give just two examples in Information Technology, Chennai in auto components, Sialkot for Cricket equipment, Tirupur for knitwear, are some other examples. Shared benches of excellence make for good bench-marks!

A Lodge is equally exposed to such influences, and I have often observed that peer pressure achieves far greater, and more consistent, results than all the driving and criticisms that can come from ‘superior’ sources. As the peer group’s (in this case let us say even those below the East) performance and drive increases, so does the motivation and morale of the Lodge. Likewise, in the other direction – ‘layabouts’ can also form a peer group be it in school, college or Lodge – and then the standards proceed south-ward, and that becomes the comfort Zone for all – with equally predictable, and sad results

So to be on the level, with quality in fraternity, should be the motto of every Lodge – or on the perfect plumb with peers!