Practice perfect or perfect practice?

 

 

 

 

 

“Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect.” 

That’s a famous quote from the legendary Vince Lombardi. 

Last week on LinkedIn people suggested a modification to that line: “Only “perfect practice” makes “perfect” permanent.”

I like it. But, I’m not a big believer in either perfection or permanent perfection.
They both sound boring (as well as undefinable, unachievable and unsustainable.)

The goal for sales pros is not to attain perfection. It’s to become the best version of you. 

As hard as we try, we’ll always have imperfections. That’s what makes us human.
Which is why I like the concept of perfect practice. 

Perfect practice is about optimizing the value of what you practice by practicing at “game speed” and being coached and receiving feedback on the thing(s) you practice. 

The whole theory of deliberate practice assumes that you aren’t practicing your craft in isolation. But that you are receiving immediate constructive feedback and coaching that you can integrate in real-time into your practice and real-life selling.

It’s the difference between going to a golf practice range and hitting two buckets of balls all on your own versus hitting one bucket of balls with your coach standing behind you providing their immediate feedback after every swing you make. Giving you the opportunity to make the next swing better.

It’s about practicing with the same intensity, and to the same standards of performance, you’d do in a real life setting (like a sales call or a game.)

This raises a couple questions:

How much time are you devoting to practicing your sales skills each week?

How much of that practice time is spent with a coach?

Check out two related posts:

Are you practicing self-enablement? 

Selling behaviors: Practice. Master. Automate

Good selling,

Peter Mclees, Leadership and Sales Coach, Trainer and Performance Consultant
SMART DEVELOPMENT

 

Take the Next Step...
Interested in learning how to develop your organization's leadership capability, culture, and employee engagement? We begin with a collaborative discovery process identifying your unique needs and business issues. To request an interview with Peter Mclees please 

contact: Email: petercmclees@gmail.com  or  Mobile: 323-854-1713

Smart Development has an exceptional track record helping service providers, ports, sales teams, restaurants, stores, distribution centers, food production facilities, wealth management services, third-party maintenance providers, real estate services, nonprofits, government agencies and other businesses create a strong culture, leadership bench strength, coaching skills and the teamwork necessary for growth.

Having worked with several companies throughout their growth cycle, we have valuable insights and strategies that would help any late stage startup, small or medium sized company achieve sustained growth and prosperity.

Having worked with several companies throughout their growth cycle, we have valuable insights and strategies that would help any late stage startup, small or medium sized company achieve sustained growth and prosperity.