Comment by Valentino Martinez on June 11, 2011 at 3:58am

Perfect - a : being entirely without fault or defect : flawless (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

 

Dean, I get where you’re going with “Process makes perfect”, but I think of it more like a journey rather than a destination.  Unless, we’re talking about an end product, like a Hershey Bar; or a Rawlings baseball…both are mechanically made to specification and get QA approval for distribution.  To me, that’s as close to perfection as you’re going to get, and there will be minor flaws in some of those mechanically produced products.

Perfection as it applies to human interaction related processes, like recruitment—your example, is unattainable because it suggests an end result that is perfect.  Now, pursuing perfection is the ideal in human processes, and is what I think you're getting at, Dean.  Or at least, I think this is your message.  In business, or HR jargon—it amounts to working toward a "continuous improvement" mantra in our work processes.  Most of us work toward ever improved results or we’re static. 

I qualify this by a simple litmus test--ask any manager, artist, athlete, musician, student, competitor, or worker; or team in any field, if there last performance was perfect.  The smart ones--the pure ones will say, "No, I know I can, or we can do better"--suggesting that perfection has not been accomplished because it will never be accomplished—but it will be pursued.

Also, any process, especially recruitment processes, must have the capacity to adjust to changes in the work environment they operate in.  Recruitment processes are influenced by:  human factors; technology, funding, accidents, work ethic, competition, management style, and Acts of God, among other things--or lack there of.

So, I pursue perfection at work and play and see it as a continuous journey toward a destination.  I am certainly satisfied with many of my accomplishments, but in my heart I know I can do better at getting to perfection.

Comment