How Much Have We Left on the Table?
20 November 2025
We’ve all heard the phrase, “How much have we left on the table?”
It comes from the noble game of poker—when someone folds too soon, the lingering question is, “How much did they leave on the table?”
It’s a question I often find myself asking after performance-appraisal debriefings. When I challenge a manager on a particular score or comment, the most common answer I hear is, “It’s good enough.”
But is good enough really the result the organisation wants? Or could there be more potential in that employee than we’re drawing out?
In other words, how much are we leaving on the table by settling for ‘good enough’?
Maybe it’s time to sharpen the science of performance management—not just to record a history of adequacy, but to create a tool that helps managers lead for growth and real performance.
Please comment. I would appreciate your view!
Written by Mark Deavall
If you would like to talk to me, please call me on +2782 465 5481 or email me on markd@markdeavall.com
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