"We've Always Done It That Way"

When people deride the "We've always done it that way" excuse they are usually referring to some mossback's reaction to a proposed change.

There is, however, an even more frequent use of that rationale. It is not noticed because it is not spoken but it is in fact thought. It is the silent acceptance of practices because, after all, "That's the way they do things around here."

Take that excuse, combine it with a natural tendency toward inertia, and practices which could not survive even brief scrutiny can continue for years.

This unspoken acceptance of practices should be periodically reviewed at staff meetings.