We live in a world where automation and robotics can make the same “perfect thing” over and over again. AI can produce “perfect” services over and over again. The problem with perfection is that as every day goes by it becomes easier and cheaper to achieve, but look around you and you will find that pretty much everything you really value is imperfect and that’s why, if you want to be effective don’t be perfect.
The first problem with perfect is it may just be impossible, the second problem is that it is rarely desirable. If you are a proponent of Lean methodology you know that even achieving the “gold standard” of six sigma still means that you will get a defect rate of 3.4 defects per million opportunities. Seven sigma which is used in areas where perfection would be the desired outcome – safety critical areas usually doesn’t guarantee perfection. I want my medicines to be as close to perfect as possible and the same applies to the engines on the plane in which I fly, but if I absolutely insist on a guarantee of perfection then I would never take a drug or fly in a plane. It’s a balance between actually achieving the objective and waiting for perfection. What is important isn’t perfection but “good enough” based on the impact of any error. The impact of a surgeon making a mistake may be death, the impact of a bad adviser for a business may be bankruptcy, the impact of a mistake by the person scanning my shopping may be a small overcharge, but the impact of waiting for perfection before every operation, report or shopping expedition is that nothing ever gets done. Good enough might have to be very good indeed but perfection, no.
How often have you read a cv of a candidate, or interviewed someone, and they have claimed to be a perfectionist? In all jobs I don’t want a perfectionist as the job will never get done as perfection is not possible. What I want is someone who is able to do the job effectively and that means well enough to get the desired result. That means a higher bar for doctors, surgeons, pilots and lorry drivers than for less critical jobs, but not perfection.
Look at any successful people and they all have one thing in common. They learn from their mistakes, but if you are a perfectionist, by definition, you never make mistakes. The next time Lord Sugar interviews for the apprentice and the person says I’m a perfectionist, the only sensible response is “you’re fired” as perfectionists spend too long perfecting things that don’t matter.
Good enough may need to be very good indeed but it’s never perfection. Effective people and organisations work out how to be good enough to achieve the results they require and then get on with the job. A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, but if you won’t start until you find the perfect boots everyone else will be way down the road ahead of you before you even put one foot in front of the other.
If you would like to discuss making your business effective by being “good enough” then please Contact