The Future of Everything
When I worked in corporate finance (a long time ago) we used the philosophy of “measure twice and cut once” as a way to make sure we were careful and thoughtful about our work. It always reminded us to double check, and to get it right the first time. It was useful and meaningful, and became part of the culture we were working in at the time. I also think it helped us grow into careful workers. I have heard myself offer this proverb to others as a way of illustrating that “we can’t be too careful.” However, there is a negative side to being too careful, too perfect, too deliberate that may hold us back in certain situations.
Another philosophy comes from the Nike ad “Just do it.” Sometimes getting it done, in some way, will build some momentum and provide the feedback from the world you need to get things closer to perfect. For example, one option might be to spend two weeks perfecting something, getting it to 98% of where you think it needs to be, and ending up with a good result. Sometimes our 98% will be more like 75% to someone else, or perhaps we find out that our approach was all wrong. We now have more information and can try again and can spend a day getting it correct. Another approach might be to spend an hour on something and get it to 80% of where we think it needs to be, and end up with an okay result. Again, we have feedback and now we can spend a day making it perfect.
If you are reading this and think I am dead wrong, you may be a perfectionist and take great pride in doing your very best most of the time. But perfectionism is a state of being, not a process. How we get something close to “perfect,” if there is such a thing, can take more than one approach. When we say measure twice and cut once, we are talking about things that you don’t have the chance to go back and do, like brain surgery or skydiving. The risks associated with tasks, like writing a newsletter, designing the perfect event or doing a strategic plan are small. The risk is small because all of these things require interaction with the greater environment. Writing a newsletter well depends on getting feedback about what you have done, and then going back and making adjustments. Writing a strategic plan is a process of discovery, which will never really come true, so by its very nature it is not perfect.
Why this is important is that in our effort to be perfect workers, professional executives, and successful people, we sometimes find ourselves spending more time stressing, drafting and delaying what can be done right now. Our fear is that “professional” people will perceive us as, well, less than perfect. However, as we delay we are wasting time and not interacting and discovering where we need to be. The important reality is that no matter how “perfect” you do something, someone will not like it, or you. Likewise, if you do something at an 80% level, some people will love what you do.
There is another side to being good (not perfect) that is critically important to professionals and entrepreneurs, and that is freedom. If we are trying to be perfect we are likely doing so for someone else, and thereby we are not being creatively and authentically free as leaders with our talents. Again, I don’t want my surgeon or accountant to be too creative, but I do want them to relax and do what they do best. If they are trying to be perfect can they really do their best? I do want my strategist and newsletter designer to be creative and reach into the not perfect world. When we stop trying to be perfect we start interacting and engaging and we start to act. We start being good. Don’t get me wrong, I like perfect like the rest of us, I just know that I can’t make perfect the enemy of good.
If you notice you have been indecisive about things, some work is piling up for your review, or that you are constantly stressing about a task or project, consider how you are approaching these items.
First consider the risk associated with the task. If it is critical, give it the full attention it needs. If it is not critical, allow some creative licenses for yourself or delegate it to others and give the license. Use it as part of a learning and listening process.
Be honest about where you are with a version of something. If you’re stressing about an approach or audience expectation, call them and be direct. Go to the meeting with it 80% done and ask the team to help perfect it. Success is a team sport, not you stressing in your office about what someone else is expecting.
Don’t be bullied by perfect people. The truth is that perfectionism is a pathology, and we can never ever please perfect people, even if they’re not perfect.
Being perfect is impossible. No one is perfect. Therefore, don’t allow perfect to be the enemy of good, and use good to move towards excellent.
Under the direction of Bedford, NH-based executive leadership coaching firm Sojourn Partners, The Future of Everything Project brings together panels of thought leaders from diverse backgrounds and interests to brainstorm, collaborate and proactively craft a vision of “what can be.” Core project participants on this topic included Heather Ramsey, partner at Sojourn AllCoach.
Dr. Russ Ouellette is the managing partner of Sojourn Partners, a Bedford-based executive leadership strategy and coaching firm. He can be reached at (603) 472-8103 or [email protected]. He can also be twittered @RussOuellette or Facebooked – Sojourn Partners.
Re-published courtesy of NH Business Review