Be a perfectionist, don't expect perfection

Be a perfectionist, don't expect perfection. Sound contrasting? Not at all.

Take a boss for example. He/she (referred to as 'he' after this - not meaning to be sex bias) must try to be the perfect boss. Setting good examples for the subordinates to follow. Subordinates will be conscious if they arrive late to the office if the boss is among the first to punch in every morning. What more if he is there every day or so beside the punch machine making silence observation. No words needed but meaning is well understood. If punctuality, quality of work, striving for corporate goal, working independently without much supervision, adherence to company's rules and regulation are important to the institution, then the boss must set the example first. Actions speak louder than words.

Be the almost perfect boss we can be. But never expect perfection from the subordinates. Unfair? No, not at all. No matter how perfect we want to be as a boss, we have our own weaknesses. The staff will realize our weaknesses soon enough. Encourage our subordinates to be the best workers they can be but if they fail here and there, accept it. Don't expect perfection. When we give room for their unintended failure, they will give room for our weaknesses. In fact, they will cover up our weaknesses. Then the chemistry will work on its own. Boss and subordinates will complement each other. Of course there are people who just don't want to improve. But over the years we will eventually see the improvement. They can't help themselves from being infected by the positive environment.

This is even more pronounced in a marriage. Be the almost perfect spouse we can be to our partner but never expect perfection from him/her. Everyone of us has our own weaknesses. Don't put our energy and time into thinking how bad our partner is but divert that energy into thinking on ways to improve our own weaknesses. As I said before in my previous blog entry, we cannot change the world but when we change ourselves the world will change too. Good luck. May Allah bless us all.