Let’s agree on one thing: perfection isn’t possible.
Something we heard early in our careers is “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” This phrase can spark some strong opinions, with some thinking it gives people an excuse to phone in their work.
That’s not the intent of the phrase. When doing anything, whether for a job, school, home, or other, we need to complete most things in a certain time period.
- For a job like email marketing, the email needs to go out by a certain time to make an impact
- For schoolwork, homework has a due date
- For work at home, we need to get dinner made in time to eat it without the family getting hangry
Perfectionism gets in the way of our work having the impact we want it to have. It also can have a detrimental effect on our lives.
- Emails sent past their due date won’t raise as much money or generate enough action if we miss the boat.
- Late homework impacts grades or means we stay up until 3:00 a.m. getting something done.
- Late evening meal? Well, call me anything you want, but don’t call me late for dinner.
The same is true of your CRM and digital engagement solutions. There’s great software out there, then there are mediocre solutions, and there are some that are past their prime but still work.
One thing they all have in common? They do not fulfill 100% of the requirements that a nonprofit organization has for its technology. Even bespoke solutions have bugs, UX annoyances, and workarounds.
This applies not just to tech, but also to data. Having a 100% clean database that contains no errors or outdated information is not a realistic goal. People move, they make typos, and they change their names without informing the nonprofits they support.
The Sisyphean task of resolving duplicates is another way we can drive ourselves crazy.
What does all this mean?
First, accept that any tool, even one you love, will not be perfect.
What is good enough? Some people say that if a solution fulfills 80% of the requirements your organization has, that’s actually a win. The remaining 20% can be handled with customizations, work process, and workarounds.
Second, accept that your data will never be perfect.
Instead, implement routine data hygiene practices to help your data be good enough:
- National Change of Address (NCOA)
- A tight workflow process to address changes supporters tell you about
- A commitment by staff to continually update the CRM with changes
- A regular duplicate review and resolution process
Third, embrace progress, not perfection.
Every identified gap in procedure, staff behavior, or software feature is a chance to improve.
- A feedback loop with your software provider is a productive place to put your annoyances with software
- A regular meeting of the minds among your staff is a way to identify and fix problems with procedure and adoption
- Consistent participation in ongoing training to get better
Getting a little better every day, while knowing we’ll never achieve lasting perfection, is how we can stay in this work sustainably.
Need help getting a little better every day? Contact Raise HECK at hello@raiseheck.com