Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Perfection and Inertia Paradox

  
   Do you remember the last time you were assigned a task and how you began the process? Some people are methodical and others just jump into the fray of the work. Yet, some others seek perfection in their work products at every step in the process. This is a good thing if it is a catalyst for change, welcomes input from others and offers the opportunity to achieve tangible outcomes. However, if it creates a barrier to success, it is time to reconsider how to manage your work.

Perfection is something many of us strive for at work. For example, it is an acceptable business practice to check the status of every phase of a project to ensure it meets or exceeds the required project scope. Often, there may such a strong focus on doing the right thing, it may take us off course from achieving the project goal.  Consequently, the Perfection and Inertia Paradox begins.

As a result, inertia sets in and nothing gets accomplished. When an organizational freelancer is so focused on perfection that they do not begin working, it hinders the  ability to meet tangible goals.

Tips to avoid the Perfection and Inertia Paradox:
  • Work and communicate with the team often
  • Develop a plan that identifies the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT)
  • Omit group think
  • Encourage different opinions
  • Use your SWOT analysis to avoid inertia
  • Create a project timeline with tangible milestones to keep the project moving forward
  • Know the signs of procrastination in your team and yourself
  • Check in with the client and communicate outcomes as well as issues at every phase

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