My twins are in their senior year of high school. As with most other high schoolers, they have been obsessed with getting good grades in anticipation of applying to college. Striving towards perfection, in anticipation of getting into the perfect college.
As a child I remember watching the Olympics and the athlete’s pursuit of the perfect 10 in their individual event. I also remember the 1980 U.S. boycott of the Olympics and thinking how those athletes worked so hard to be perfect, only to be denied even the chance to prove it. Sometimes leaders don’t have the opportunity to show they are perfect, but like some of the 1980 athletes there can be redemption if you wait.
In my early 30’s I learned to play guitar and then later learned to play mandolin and violin (fiddle). I was proficient, but by no means the perfect musician. After deciding my next musical step was to play with other people in a band, I started to audition with local groups. More than a few told me I was not good enough. Then one day I met a small group of other “imperfect” musicians and we ended up playing Irish music together for five years. Though perfect by no means, that experience helped me grow into the person I am today. It was a great time in my life, filled with lifelong memories.
So, I’m writing this to tell all the leaders out there that perfection is overrated. It is not realistic to think leaders are going to be perfect.
How should we as leaders fight the urge to be perfect?
– Try new and uncomfortable things (even those who are close to perfection today weren’t always that way)
– Be vulnerable with others (show our people we’re not perfect and you’ll actually gain more credibility)
The bottom line; try less than perfect!