Redefining What Good Looks Like: Raising Standards Without Losing Culture 

Across the recruitment sector, performance culture is being quietly reset. Growth is harder won, margins are tighter, and tolerance for inconsistency is shrinking. Many leaders are realising that what passed as “good” in previous market cycles is no longer commercially sustainable.

But raising standards isn’t as simple as increasing targets or rewriting commission plans. When handled poorly, it can erode morale, damage trust, and undermine culture. When handled well, it sharpens accountability, increases pride, and creates clarity about what excellence truly looks like.

In this session, we’ll explore how leaders are redefining performance in 2026; not just in billings, but in behaviours, consistency, ownership, and contribution to the wider business. We’ll examine how commission structures, KPIs, and progression pathways are being recalibrated to reinforce higher expectations, and how high-performing teams maintain standards without slipping into fear-based management.

We’ll cover:

• What “good” commercially and behaviourally looks like in 2026
• How leaders are resetting expectations without destabilising teams
• The link between commission design, accountability, and cultural standards
• Why inconsistency in managing underperformance erodes credibility
• Practical ways to raise standards while maintaining trust and engagement

This isn’t about becoming harsher. It’s about becoming clearer.

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