Peer Norms
Peer Norms looks at the informal standards people reinforce with each other when leaders are not in the room.
Performance often stalls when the unofficial rules of the group conflict with the formal expectations of the organization.
Watch the Peer Norms Lesson
This lesson explains how informal team standards can either support performance or quietly pull people away from what leaders say they want.
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Read the lesson transcript
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This section should explain that peer norms are the informal behaviors, standards, and social pressures that shape what people actually do. They can reinforce good work, or they can make shortcuts, silence, workarounds, or low follow-through feel normal.
Before You Complete This Section
Answer these questions against the same performance challenge you selected at the start.
- Think about what the group actually reinforces, not what the policy says.
- Notice whether people feel safe raising concerns, asking questions, or challenging risky workarounds.
- Look for tolerated shortcuts, silence, avoidance, or informal pressure to “just make it work.”
- Consider whether strong performers are carrying the norm or fighting against it.
Peer norms can make the right behavior easier, or they can make it socially expensive. If people are pressured to stay quiet, cut corners, or accept poor handoffs, the formal process will not be enough.
Complete the Peer Norms Section
Choose the answer that best reflects the performance challenge you are analyzing.