It is possible to learn something or develop a skill if you practice enough. People say to encourage others to keep practicing so that they get better at something. But I prefer to say “practice makes progress“.
Let’s compare the meaning of “perfect” and “progress”.
Perfect: having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.
Progress: development towards an improved or more advanced condition.
Based on the definition above, being perfect sounds almost impossible. Therefore, we should stop aiming for perfection. If we practice to be perfect, we may never be happy. There will always be something that we need to improve on.
Instead, we should aim for progress. Just a little each day will go a long way. Don’t wait to be perfect to speak up at work. Let speaking up at work become part of your practice so that you progress and get better.
And don’t forget to celebrate your progress. Look back on how much you’ve improved today compared to where you were in the past. Give yourself a pat on the back before you progress to the next thing you need to improve on.