WorkMatters Tips Issue #27 – August 21, 2007
Publisher: Gayle Lantz mailto:lantz@workmatters.com
https://workmatters.com
WorkMatters, Inc.
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A quick tip to help leaders and executives who need to motivate their teams and themselves, and catapult their business.
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Leadership Perfection
Some of the most impressive leaders I’ve had the opportunity to work with constantly strive for self improvement. They want to do better, be better and achieve more for themselves and their business.
Self motivated leadership development is an ideal characteristic of good leaders.
However, sometimes these leaders can get in their own way when they lose focus and concentrate too much on perfection. Some don’t realize they are stepping into a dangerous trap. Here are some of the signs:
* You’ve become too focused on "right and wrong."
Sometimes there is not one right or wrong way for leaders to go about managing people or the business. Seek the best way.
* You’ve lost sight of the big picture.
Instead you’re bogged down in details that are necessary to get the job done well, but don’t necessarily require your involvement.
* You’re losing confidence in yourself.
You may doubt yourself, your decisions or capabilities too much because your standards or expectations are unrealistically high. The leadership team meeting could have ALWAYS been more productive. The presentation could have ALWAYS been improved. Don’t let these things shake your confidence.
* You’re comparing yourself too much to other leaders.
Learn from others. Listen. Observe. But be the leader only you can be. Revisit your unique strengths, motives and goals for your own leadership.
* You’re wasting time tweaking, adjusting, perfecting, etc.
Yes, paying attention to the little things can mean better results, but you may have reached a point of diminishing return if you’re not focused on the aspects of your leadership that will produce best results. Make sure the payoff is there for the extra effort.
You may work in an industry that values or requires a sense of "perfectionism" related to safety, accuracy, compliance, etc. Whether you’re in a field such as accounting where accuracy matters
or you’re in the utility, construction or aerospace industry where safety is paramount,don’t confuse the standards in your industry with the ones that apply to your role as a leader.
Leadership is not about perfection.
The best leaders are admittedly imperfect and continually strive for progress, not perfection. They understand that progress trumps perfection. Put yourself and those you lead on the path to progress.
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ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
Have no fear of perfection — you’ll never reach it.
~Salvador Dali
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Reprinted from "WorkMatters Tips," a free ezine produced by Gayle Lantz featuring tips for leaders and executives who want to grow themselves, their team and their business. Subscribe at
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