Why Do You Even Want Perfection?

Risk failure to increase your ability to thrive in a crisis

Perfection is a myth!

In a crisis or challenge, the very myth can stop the team from doing what must be done now.

We must change what we are doing and how we are doing it — fast.

It’s often painful, and we don’t feel terrific about the first few times we do it. We don’t like change -but change we must.

For instance, we like to have in-person events at MACNY- The Manufacturers Association. We did 300 events last year! We like to say we are “Events are Us”! Well, in one week, we converted all of our events to digital events.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we are doing more events than ever! And, our attendance increased while our cost per event went down! When this is over, we will do both — very well.

However, when we first started our digital transformation, we were far from perfect at it.

We just did it -and learned how to do it as we began this radically new approach.

Lesson to Learn

Expecting perfection in a time of change stops innovation and degrades morale.

As a leader and team member, I need to seek progress and less than perfect outcomes.

Learning and doing is more important than getting it perfect.

Perfect is not possible.

Learning and change are not only possible — it’s required for success.

Answer for Me

I need to reward trying — and not getting it perfect.

I need to encourage innovative efforts.

I need to praise hard work focused on doing it differently. This is true for my work as well as the work of others.

Celebrate the new — done imperfectly!

Doing so will add new capabilities and offer new opportunities.

Action

Change requires us to do something we are not good at — yet.

You need to try something new — even if it is not great at first. We all need to encourage others to do things that they are not yet good at.

My daily writing is just such an example. I now write every day of the week!

Take risks, try new things — daily.

Learn new things without the fear of needing perfection.

Daily Habits

Try new habits. Try new work products.

Encourage others to change.

Celebrate trying — versus success!

Please encourage others to try something they are not yet good at. Do this daily.

Risk failure by seeking to change rapidly. It’s the only way to learn and thrive.

To learn more about leadership visit me at www.macny.org.

To get a copy of my book Present-Future Leader, go to www.amazon.com.