From the time we are young, we are taught to achieve. We aim for perfect test scores, winning a contest, or to not get in trouble. Awards are given for outstanding performances and scoring the most points. Perfection would seem to be the obvious goal and the best way to live your life.
If perfection becomes your highest priority, it can often actually lead to your downfall. Perfection demands that you master a process or technique and do it exactly right. But even for those who have worked years to master something, they will not do it just right every time.
Perfectionism does not permit us to experiment or try something new for fear of making a mistake. In effect it can rob us of the ability to grow, learn, and improve. It can box us into a certain approach or view which will become dull and outdated over time.
When we strive for excellence rather than perfection, it allows us to stretch in new ways. We may find unexpected ideas and approaches that have not occurred to us before. While there will be imperfections in our attempts, we will add value and depth to our knowledge and work. Leaders have to fight the desire for perfection and efficiency and instead look for opportunities to explore and identify new paths forward.
Leaders should help their teams remember that learning is a process, not a one-time event. All of us have been to seminars on time management or communication skills. None of us become experts by attending or hearing about something just one time. To sustain a change, you must learn about something, apply it, and then continue learning from what worked well and what might need to be improved. This process is ongoing, filled with discovery and joy.
None of us can reach and sustain perfection. However, awareness of the beauty of imperfection, the opportunity to learn, and the joy of discovery can lead us to a place of excellence!
