Progress vs. Perfection

When I work with executive teams aiming for a big goal, we peek up at that goal (perfection) for orientation purposes but keep our eyes on the intermediate milestones directly ahead.

Also, we measure and celebrate progress against where we started, not against how far there is to go. That’s because focussing on the gap between where we are and where we want to be is dispiriting.

It’s harder to get up a mountain if you’re looking anxiously at the peak every five minutes.

Focussing on progress instead of perfection builds confidence, which boosts our energy, stimulates lateral thinking, and helps us take necessary risks.

Delegation is about enlisting competent help to achieve something big. If you are constantly reminding your delegatee of how far from perfection your shared project is, and letting them know how much it bothers you, you’ll both be less confident and less capable.