Is your drive for perfection a double edge sword?

SGT Ben Keen — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 10:42:12 -0400

It is no secret that within the military, perfection is the goal. While not always obtainable, we are trained from Day One on how to do things "perfectly". We are instructed how to stand, walk, talk, salute, exercise, etc. all with a standard in mind and the goal to do those things perfectly.

Yet for most of us, being perfect hardly happens. We continue to push ourselves yet sometimes fall short. We go to the range wanting to knock out 40 out of 40 targets or hit the PT field wanting that perfect score, yet more often than not we give what we can only fall short of that perfect score. So what do we say to ourselves? What is our response? We go to the gym and workout more. We focus on marksmanship fundamentals. We study harder and longer. We spend just five more minutes shining our boots (well back when we shined boots). Yet again, when we try to achieve this perfection, we again fall just short. Sure, for some maxing a PT test is nothing. Hitting 40 out of 40 targets is all in a days work. Maxing out that board was a cake walk. However, the fundamental idea of total perfection just seems to be out of reach.

In the work place, I sometimes find my drive for perfection to be a double edge sword. I want the task done perfectly yet with most things in the IT Field, there are issues that creep in. However, one small mistake either in a line of code or in the configuration or some other part of the process can result in hours and hours of head banging frustration as you try to find the error. I find myself taking a little longer to complete a task than some of my coworkers because I'm going over and over the data only to have a issue creep in yet my coworker who completed the task in half the time got it done with no issues. I can rock out a killer spreadsheet tracking the process of a project, yet sometimes I miss just one thing and now rather than acknowledging the hard work and time spent on the tracker, people are more focused on that one missing piece.

So, RallyPoint, before I make this into an even longer read, do you share any of these struggles? If so, what are something’s you do to overcome them?

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 14 at 2015 11:06 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 11:06:27 -0400

It can be if you're not careful. It's always nice to be a perfectionist but when your perfection interferes with a timely task then this can hurt you. There are times that being a perfectionist is not needed or wanted. You have to remember there is a time and place for everything. Now I am starting to sound like my parents! LOL!

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 11:43 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 11:43:53 -0400

One of my Brigades commanders defined Professionalism as practicing not until you get a task right, but until you cannot get it wrong. If we strive for perfection and fall short, are we left with greatness as a force?

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jul 14 at 2015 12:14 PM

COL Charles Williams — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 12:14:02 -0400

SGT Ben Keen Perfection should always be the goal, but you need to maintain perspective and realize that perfection is likely never achievable (perfect). We shoot for it, we come close, and we adjust and reset our goals and objectives to even higher levels.

Being a good leader is about always striving to improve the organization and each team member. Perfection can be a double edge sword, if you have zero defect attitude and actually believe perfection is achievable. You need to aim for perfection, but also need to be realistic and understand perfection (perfect) is highly unlikely - even 99.9 correct is not perfect. As as example, the standard of experimental significance is usually .05% meaning 95% chance your results are good, and not due to chance (.05%). Never is the standard .00 or 100%, sometimes .01 and 99%.

I had a boss (GO) who said "Perfection is a Enemy of Good Enough." Some tasks need near perfection, others just need to get done. You have to prioritize, and focus your efforts on the most important objectives, and assume risk (good enough) on others. As I am sure you know, if everything is a priority (perfection), nothing really is.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jul 14 at 2015 12:57 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 12:57:48 -0400

Striving for perfection tends to be blinding. I've seen it many times. Over exerting to achieve an impossible goal (not talking about firefights) has lead to lapses in safety, hence injuries. It also tends to narrow ones vision so the big picture gets lost. I've seen critical equipment in the shop for that last grommet and not in front keeping people alive. Finally, there's a lot of wasted energy, hence inefficiency. So I'd agree with COL Charles Williams but would add that recognition of the delta between good enough and perfection and what doing more will get or not get you should be included in the mix. Sometimes doing more is cheap insurance in the big picture.

Response by Capt Michael Halpin made Jul 14 at 2015 6:58 PM

Capt Michael Halpin — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 18:58:49 -0400

I was taught to go for the 70% solution, not perfection. A 70% solution made now is better than a 100% solution made too late.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2015 9:14 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 21:14:30 -0400

Perfection should be strived for but you also need to keep in mind something. Throughout history some of the greatest inventions were accidents, mistakes or wrong turns. It is how you use them. When someone makes a mistake or falls short you need to examine what happened and how it can be used. when the invented the adhesive for sticky note they were trying to make a new for of superglue. When leaders try and focus on making everything absolutely perfect it can make it so that nothing measures up. I recently had a SNCO tell us that he sees 3 reasons for people coming in to the service. As he continued he basically said that 2 of the reasons that people join are unacceptable and he did not expect them to make a carrier out of the service. He spent about 30 minutes telling me and my men that we were not good enough for his Air Force. I do not believe this was his intent but it was the outcome.. I keep hearing about how diversity is one of the strengths of our military. If we try and stamp out anything that is not perfect we will destroy our diversity. I can not remember who said it but there is a good quote from WW2 "If you tell people where to go, but not how to get there, you'll be amazed at the results. -George S. Patton"

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2015 12:46 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 12:46:02 -0400

Perfection can be a double edged sword depending on the role it is allowed to take in your life. If achieving a perfect PT test score motivates you and others around you to succeed, then it is a positive influence in life. The desire for perfection can be negative if it is allowed to consume other aspects of life, for example getting results at the expense of interpersonal relationships.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Jul 15 at 2015 5:08 PM

1SG Michael Blount — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 17:08:28 -0400

Indeed it is. I'm realizing that now. Perfection is nice to get, tough to keep