Soto Zen Buddhist monk Shunryu Suzuki said…
“You are perfect just as you are, and you could use a little improvement.”
There’s nothing wrong with us!
Yet our world constantly reminds us that we are broken and need fixing:
- Report cards: here’s your grade and where you fell short
- Commercials: here’s what’s wrong with you and how our product will fix it
- Feedback: here’s my “constructive criticism” to change you
But if we start with the notion that we are perfect as we are, we could springboard from our strengths, instead of flail from our flaws.
With “perfect as we are” as our anchor, we can enthusiastically seek suggestions, feedback, ideas, and input from others by asking, “How can I improve from here?”
Without a need to defensively protect our ego, we can welcome suggestions and ideas, not as judgments or criticisms, but as contributions and building blocks. Each block helping us to become bigger, better, bolder versions of ourselves – to be even more perfect.
So how do we get a little improvement? By seeking advice, perspectives, and ideas from others through:
- mentoring and being mentored
- coaching and being coached
- attending classes and trainings
- reading voraciously
- joining mastermind groups
Now consider using this mindset to lead others: our people are perfect as they are, and they could use a little improvement. From here our job is to add the building blocks that contribute to our people being bigger, better, bolder versions of themselves. That’s the secret to becoming the boss people want to work for!
All by starting with perfect and improving from there…