…And
I am proud of it.
In
this short post, I want to understand what made me an imperfectionist.
The
moment I typed out that word, the word processor software threw down a red squiggly
line under it. That is, the software, or more correctly, the dictionary that it
refers to, is as much flummoxed about what I am as I myself am. But I know I am
an imperfectionist.
How
so? In my office, if my colleagues take more time on a task than they
themselves had agreed to finish it in, the first excuse that dribbles out is, “I
have to make sure I am not making any dumb mistake.” That is, it is OK with
them if they made intelligent mistakes! But let that pass. The next line, “I am
committed to produce the most perfect work.” Never mind that words such as
perfection, unique do not entertain comparatives and superlatives. The last
line, “I am a perfectionist.” That is the entitlement to be excused for lazy
work and delays.
As
I understand, there are two kinds of people – one, the maximizers, and two, the
satisficers (this is a sort of combo word satisfy and suffice). The maximizers
are the perfectionists. If you asked for their phone number, they will
invariably start +91 …, just so you harbour no illusions that they live outside
India. They will start a sentence referring to Delhi, “The capital of India,
Delhi …” You see, there are a million Delhis all across the world.” And, they
take their sweet time maximizing everything and anything, and each in detail.
I,
on the other hand, am a satisficer. I had no option as I am not too happy with
my colleagues. I am happy if a job is done to the level of satisfaction that
the task and its context require, without major goof ups (One of the reasons my
posts are full of errors at first post; subsequently, I try to edit the errors
out).
Of
course, I put in additional efforts to get the job done within the time frame agreed
to. Fine tuning can be done continually, preferably by others (Had Hercules
been given the job of copy editing what he himself had written, he would have
failed), if the required level of accuracy is ratcheted up. I contextualize my
conversations and expect the listeners to do likewise. Yes, there could be some
problems, if there are shades to be understood. But, that does not happen so
often as to validate the maximizers’ excuse of being perfectionists.
I
am a satisficer, OK? But, the word is very obscure compared to what the maximizers
had got assigned to themselves – perfectionists.
Hence,
I am an imperfectionist.
And,
I am proud of it.
Raghuram
Ekambaram
8 comments:
Given your deinition of the portmanteau word [I prefer that accepted coinage to your 'combo' which reminds me of some PVR offering], I'm a satisficer and would always opt for satisficers. The maximisers of the kind you speak of are too bloated to do the work required in the given time. Their intentions are interests are too varied... yet they achieve much in life.
Early in my career I was mentored by a boss (alas he is no more), that good is the enemy of the best and that coming out with a good-enough output in the given time is the necessity. I am also a satisficer, Raghu...hahahah.
In fact I find it extremely fatigue-invoking to rework the same thing making endless cosmetic improvements in drafting...but unfortunately of late that has been my bane because of a perfectionist boss, which I am afraid will continue for quite some time.
In Government offices we are obsessed with every small spelling, comma and moreover an administrative head who does not correct the drafts that come to him is assumed to be lazy, Aditi would justify that
you are a realist willing to live in an unreal world..you are a perfectionist in an imperfect world.
but then this perfection is different in the context used by you.yes you are a Satificer(great coinage)
You made me rush to the dictionary Matheikal, with portmanteau. I had seen the word being used but never knew the meaning (never bothered, disappointingly).
Thanks a lot for being a fellow traveler on the "satisficer" cruise. Hope we won't hit any iceberg.
RE
Aditi,
The cruise liner is getting crowded :))) Matheikal, you and me. We "satisficers" will sink before hitting any iceberg!
RE
So, Balu you are saying that "maximizers" are not lazy. That is the exact opposite of my conclusion
:(
I think "maximizers" maximize only to avoid being tagged lazy!
Thanks.
RE
Thanks DS sir. I think "satisficer" came out of some psychological profiling. I am not sure though.
RE.
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