Corporate mediocrity is killing your growth — Here’s how to break free

Why doing your job well isn’t enough anymore and what to do instead...

Every few years in my corporate journey, I'd hit a wall. Not because I wasn’t performing. But because I had outgrown the role. Everything that once felt exciting became monotonous. The learning curve flattened. My growth stalled.

But the environment didn’t shift with me. There was no clear path upward, no new challenges being handed to me. My manager wasn’t going anywhere, unless they left, which was typically rare, especially in a manufacturing setting I was a part of. It didn’t matter that I was reliable, that I delivered, that people trusted me to get the job done.

I had unknowingly slipped into a trap that is far too common in the corporate world:

I was doing “good work”.

But unfortunately, good work alone isn’t enough.

A lot of mid-career professionals that I have spoken to and/or I have worked with so far firmly believed in most, if not all, of these myths:

• “If I keep doing good work, I’ll get noticed.”

• “Being easy to work with is enough.”

• “Eventually, my time will come.”

• “Conflict should always be avoided.”

• “My results speak for themselves.”

These beliefs are comforting. But they’re also dangerous. They create an illusion of progress when, in reality, you’re stuck in place.

You do what’s asked but rarely more. You avoid challenging bad ideas not out of agreement, but out of fear. You say yes to everything because you want to be liked. You stay in your lane because stepping out feels risky.

This mindset does NOT lead to career growth. It only leads to invisibility.

You become the “go-to” person who gets things done tactically (to do what’s being told), but never the person considered for leadership roles.

You become known for execution but not for strategy. But that is okay, if that is what you are optimizing for. But don’t be surprised if you get overlooked for leadership roles.

I saw this firsthand at my previous company, Schneider Electric. I was there for 9 years and switched roles every 2-3 years. Each transition was driven by boredom, not momentum. I wasn’t being pulled into bigger opportunities; I had to chase them down.

And often, those opportunities weren’t even within reach because the organizational structure didn’t allow for it. My manager had to leave for me to even be considered. And guess what, in traditional corporations, you’ll find people putting 40+ years in one company, and most of them are managers who are just not going anywhere.

I didn’t want to wait for someone to quit so I could grow.

That realization was a turning point in my career.

Here’s what I’ve learned since:

You don’t need to accept mediocrity as your ceiling. But escaping the mediocrity means you need a mindset shift - that too a radical one.

Start thinking & acting like a business owner, inside a company.

I’m not saying go build a startup tomorrow.

I’m just saying: even within your current role, start taking ownership like it’s your own business. You WILL stop surviving & start growing. I bet you 9 out of 10 people are not willing to put in the work, which is primarily why you should.

I often use these 6 guiding principles when I work with my clients. This has really served me well in my own career (specifically at Google) & all of my clients as well.

✅ Stop doing just what’s asked. Start identifying gaps. Anticipate needs. Deliver solutions before they’re requested.

✅ Challenge ideas with respect. You don’t grow by being a “yes person.” Growth happens when you ask tough questions, propose better ways, and respectfully disagree when needed.

✅ Think beyond your job description. What are your peers working on? What’s your department’s goal? How does your work directly impact the company’s strategy?

✅ Market your work internally. Don’t assume people know the impact you’re making. Learn to tell the story of your work—clearly, confidently, and consistently.

✅ Own outcomes, not just tasks. Shift from “I completed the task” to “I drove the result”. Own the bigger picture & this is the single most important cheat code to grow in your role because most are not willing to do that work.

✅ Stop waiting for permission. Raise your hand. Ask for more. Pitch a new idea. Don’t wait to be chosen.

These traits aren’t just reserved for founders. They’re what will make you stand out from the sea of “mediocre” professionals in most organizations.

And yes, this is the mindset with which I built my business over the past 18 months as a full-time entrepreneur. That journey taught me the importance of initiative, ownership, and clarity like nothing else. Now I bring that lens back into my full-time role, and it has made a massive difference to my career.

While mediocrity is comfortable, comfort is often the enemy of growth.

If you’re tired of feeling stuck, bored, or invisible—it’s not your title. It’s almost always your mindset.

The market doesn’t reward effort. It rewards clarity, courage, and value.

You don’t need to leave corporate life to grow. You just need to stop playing small within it.

Kill mediocrity. Think like an owner. And build a career that actually grows with you.

Until next time,

Raghav

P.S: I'm curious to know your thoughts on this idea. Don’t disappoint me :)