As I network with hundreds of professionals I realize that high performers are ones that are continually striving toward perfection, it motivates them, but never stands in the way of them starting something new. These people have great stories, they have tried many things, gotten pretty good at most of them but have then moved on.
As Michael Stanier explained in Do More Great Work:
“Your goal is not to find the perfect place to start. That might paralyze you, forever delaying action because it’s not just so. Instead, find a place to start. Take your best guess. And choose something that will do for the time being. Something that has potential – somewhere that’s a good enough place to start.”
You might say that these people are talented and experienced quitters. Their personal lives are driven by excellence in all they do, but not at a level that prevents them from starting the next new thing. They are professionals that companies are looking to attract, these are the top performers, the ones that produce great work.
Seth Godin, explores this trait in successful people in his book The Dip. He stresses that successful people do not allow themselves to get stuck in the “cul-de-sac” of life, that would be going around and around but not getting anywhere new. The advice in the DIP is right on the money, we all have the ability to be great at many things, maybe even be perfect at a few, but we need to start a lot of things before we can find that perfection.
As companies in healthcare are challenged with situations that are changing on a daily basis they are looking to hire those who strive for perfection, but who are also willing to go in new directions. This is very true of the challenges that exist around the implementation of health IT systems. Healthcare professionals that are able to embrace the new systems though they are not yet “perfect” in utilizing them become the most valuable people on the team.
Perfection as a motivator, absolutely; perfection as a reason to stay stuck where you are, no way!
Melissa Truax
