Yes, that is Perfect!
How often have we hoped to hear those words?
Providing that perfect solution, that perfect response, that perfect performance is something many of us strive for. We want to make someone happy, we want to be picked, we aim for the perfect performance, and we want to have it be just right.
But what is right? And, right for whom? Is there ever really a perfect match?
Many times when we look to be "perfect" it is based on an external measure. What would happen if we began our pursuit of "perfect" with an internal measure, with an understanding our "perfect".
One of my favorite takes on being perfect was shared at a conference by coach/consultant Sharon Hoyle Weber. She said "The most perfect version of me is innately not me, not authentic." And "Your perfect self cannot hold a candle to your true self."
So, what about that old saying "Practice makes Perfect"?
I think there is a huge difference between chasing after perfect and practicing for perfect performance. When we chase after perfect, we're coming from a perspective of lack - we don't have the thing that we want. But when we practice for a perfect performance, we're active participants in preparing for success. So, how can we practice for authentic successful performance?
"Think of authenticity as your foundation." Jack Welch
Know yourself; your history, your today and your desired future. Review how your accomplishments, values, strengths and weaknesses factor into the choices that are present. Create a game plan, make a play book and practice from that play book.
Practice is a discipline that is valuable to any situation where we want to be confident and true to ourselves. For example, think about responding to an interview question. Have you ever answered a question just as you wanted to in head and then heard something completely different when you said it out loud? Practice is not about being able to perfectly recite a scripted response. Practice is how we know ourselves well enough to respond clearly, concisely and with a message that reflects our approach and the talents we bring to the task at hand.
With practice we learn our current strengths and our weaknesses. With practice we learn to manage our current skill level to our current set of circumstances; opportunity or obstacle. With practice we learn how to create value. With practice we learn to play to our strengths.
Practice connects us to our most authentic self and brings our true self to our performance. That sounds just about perfect to me.
