There is a lot of emphasis on getting things right. From school to sport, to other recreations, to the workplace: the emphasis is on getting stuff right.
I want to question this emphasis for several reasons.
1. It’s against learning.
I remember vividly an interview with a research scientist on Australian radio. When applying for government funding he was asked what the outcomes of the research would be! He tried to explain that he was actually asking for the money for research. There needs to be a space for not knowing, exploring, wandering around – especially when dealing with new things.
There are a few new things that I think we desperately need to deal with: climate change, the transition to a sustainable way of living on our planet, paying for healthcare; to name just the first few that spring to mind.
The emphasis on doing well gets in the way of learning – and so innovation and solutions to new problems.
2. It’s Bondage to Yesterday
To get it right usually means following the tried and true (sometimes dressed up as ‘world’s best practice). We know how to get the sums right because we follow the rules of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. This is important. And it doesn’t lead to anything new. An emphasis on getting it right is usually conservative: rightness is measured by a standard already established.
3. It Discourages Playing
Playing takes time and there is no guarantee that it is productive. What it can be is joyful and creative: neither of which is guaranteed to be successful.
4. It substitutes quantity for quality
Productivity and efficiency can be measured, which makes them popular. It is trickier to measure quality (some simply substitute popularity – which can also be easily measured). Yet quality contributes to the joy of our life. Beauty and elegance are nicer to be around.
5. It encourages tunnel-vision
The emphasis on getting it right is usually from following set procedures, slavery to routine and not terribly subtle measurement scales.
6. It discourages individuality
Getting it right means the suppression of the individual’s contribution. To get it right means that the answer is already given, and performance is measured against. This has its place. It is good that we stick to the agreements about how to do the sums (1+1 always equals 2); not much room for individuality here. But for organising our work and relationships the emphasis on getting things right can be incredibly stultifying leading to tedium and lethargy.
7. It can be very inhibiting
From human relationships to considering ideas, having to get it right can be incredibly limiting. If an idea has to be perfectly formulated before it is considered, then very few ideas will be advanced. And the spin offs that may lead to the idea being improved or the development of new ideas won’t happen.
If I have to know how to relate perfectly to someone I’ll never be able to. Making mistakes and learning from them is part of being human and essential in relationships. It is better to apologise badly when we have made a mistake than not apologise because we can’t do it well enough.
If something is worth doing then it is worth doing badly. It is worth making an attempt and failing (we may learn much). It is worth having the space to learn (which means the support we need to fail). It is worth having the space to try new things (some of which are bound to fail). It is worth having the space for individuals to make their own contribution (and not crush any individuality against pre-established rules and standards). It is worth having time for play and creativity (hardly a recipe for productivity and efficiency).
Because learning, creativity, individuality are important if a job is worth doing then it is worth doing badly.
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Tags: burnout, perfectionism
I think this is particularly important when it comes to basics such as growing food, having relationships and making your own fun.
It’s better to have a weed-infested vegetable patch than no food at all. I’d rather have imperfect friendships than a friendless life. It’s nicer to be able to play an instrument badly than to have to be totally dependent on others for music (or have no music at all).
Very well said Carmen, I entirely agree.
Interesting points, Evan! One of the best outcomes of doing ‘it’ wrong is that it holds the potential to do ‘it’ better. Some great discoveries were made this way.
Excellent point Laurie.
I agree. My version is “Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly.” It keeps my ego out of the way.
Thanks for your comment Jean.
Thanks for this — I particularly liked the mention of how it’s impossible to get relating exactly right — somehow I seem to be better at remembering that it’s okay to experiment and mess up in my business life than I do in my personal relationships.
Hi Chris, that’s an interesting point. I hadn’t thought of it. I think I’m probably like you: messing up in business is more acceptable to me than in more personal relationships. Thanks for your comment.