Rule #18. No Easy Achievements.

We don’t appreciate what we get easily in life!

Here’s a question for you: Think back to a time when you received something for free.

Did you actually use it as you should have, or did it just get neglected? More often than not, we don’t appreciate what we get easily, and this applies to almost every aspect of life, including the workplace.

In today’s workplace, there’s often pushback from employees when it comes to assessments. They complain that they’re too difficult or too frequent. And sometimes, to be liked or to avoid complaints, managers and trainers might be tempted to make assessments easier or skip them altogether. But what happens when we do that?

Just like in relationships, where overcoming challenges together strengthens the bond, the same principle applies to workplace learning. If assessments are made too easy or removed entirely, employees don’t grow. The knowledge isn’t retained, revenue doesn’t increase, and retention becomes a struggle because people don’t feel as connected to their work.

But here’s the key: It’s not just about having assessments; it’s about selecting the right assessments—ones that are relevant to the job and offer immediate feedback. With the capabilities of AI now, there’s no excuse not to provide timely and impactful feedback. Imagine being able to practice video calls, phone calls, emails, ticket resolutions, and even live negotiations in a controlled environment that mimics real-world scenarios. This isn’t just theory; it’s practical, hands-on learning.

I’ll never forget the 1-minute simulation we did at a Harvard negotiation class. The task was to rescue people from kidnappers—a high-pressure situation that felt incredibly real. We failed as a group, but the level of realistic feeling and care was at its peak. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for the entire day after, replaying the scenario in my head and considering how we could have approached the kidnapper differently. The solutions kept coming to me, and ultimately, I’ve never forgotten that lesson.

This experience highlights the importance of challenging, relevant assessments. They stick with you, they make you think deeply, and they drive real growth. So, when employees complain about assessments being too hard, remember this: making things easy isn’t doing them a favor. In the long run, it’s the challenges that lead to growth, deeper engagement, and ultimately, better performance and retention. That’s the real key to success, both for the employees and the business.

Let’s break this down with examples from different areas of life:

Promotions and Career Growth

Consider your career. If you’ve ever been handed a promotion or a raise without really feeling like you earned it, how did it affect your work afterward? Chances are, you didn’t feel as motivated or as proud of your achievement as you would have if you’d fought hard for it. The satisfaction that comes with earning something after pushing through challenges is unparalleled. It drives you to maintain that standard and continue growing. But when a promotion feels unearned, it can actually decrease motivation, leaving you feeling dissatisfied or even guilty.

Material Achievements

Think about the material things you’ve acquired—cars, houses, trips, expensive clothes. If these were easily accessible to you, did they bring as much joy as something you saved up for, planned for, or worked hard to get? Often, the journey towards acquiring something makes the end result much sweeter. For example, buying your first car with your hard-earned money likely felt more rewarding than receiving one as a gift. The same goes for a house you’ve saved for years to buy—every detail feels like a triumph because you earned it.

Relationships

Now, look at relationships—whether they’re romantic, friendships, or even family dynamics. Relationships that have faced challenges and overcome them tend to be stronger and more valued. When everything is too easy, there’s less investment, and the bond might not feel as deep. Consider how much more you appreciate a relationship that has weathered tough times, where both parties have worked to stay connected and grow together. The sense of achievement in these relationships comes from the mutual effort and resilience, not just from the good times.

The Sports Analogy

Now, think about sports. Athletes don’t become champions by chilling through easy training sessions. They push themselves, they face tough opponents, and they learn from their losses. The challenges they face in training and competition are what make them stronger, faster, and more skilled. When they finally achieve victory, it’s not just the win that matters—it’s the journey, the hard work, and the obstacles they’ve overcome to get there.

If athletes only trained at a basic level without ever challenging themselves, they wouldn’t improve. The same principle applies to employees in the workplace. 

So, when employees complain about assessments being too hard, remember this: making things easy isn’t doing them a favor. In the long run, it’s the challenges that lead to growth, deeper engagement, and ultimately, better performance and retention. That’s the real key to success, both for the employees and the business.