The Fallacy of Best Practice

The Fallacy of Best Practice

We often hear the term “best practice” typically used to indicate initiatives, which the management of an organization desires to implement in order to achieve excellence. “Best practice” in marketing, “best practice” in human resource management, “best practice” in technology are spoken of with hallowed breath to indicate some tried and proven way to beat the competition.

It occurs to me that “best practice” is highly overrated.

Let’s first consider: what is “best practice”? Simply put, it is a process or technique that has been applied repeatedly and has consistently yielded superior results. We discern best practice by examining what those who are the best in the business are doing.

Why do I question this, for surely studying the best and doing what they are doing must yield the best results? Here’s why:

Best practices are technologies, processes and systems that were developed and applied successfully – but in the past, perhaps in a different context, with different people and intentions. Just because something worked well in a previous time does not in any way mean that it will be the best possible solution now or in the future. “History is no predictor of the future.” Indeed, an organization that continuously achieves superior performance is likely to have abandoned or progressed from the particular “best practice” that once served them well but is still being touted by others.

What I believe companies need to do is determine their own best possible practice that is in alignment with their vision. This may or may not be the best practice of the competition.

So what? Focus on what your customers desire, and how best you can organize yourself to meet their needs – flawlessly! Then constantly monitor, measure and analyse performance and apply the new learning quickly and accurately. It’s dangerous to be stuck in a mode of searching outside for best practice. Chances are, the best practice is to be constantly seeking and implementing your own best practice, always with the intention of improving and making the practice even better – or finding another one!

We used to sing this little ditty in school:

Good better best
Never let it rest
Till your good, be better
And your better, best

It still applies, except that in our turbulent world, there is no rest – just constantly making our good better, our better best and our best even better.

TAKE ONE ACTION

Challenge your team to find better ways to do things and not rely on what the competition is doing. A good place to start? Ask your customers what they think.

INTERESTING LINKS

It’s good to know what your weaknesses are, but don’t focus too much on them. Instead, grow from your strengths – build on what you do well to create sustainable growth and profitability.
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A very practical guide to improving your communication. Be aware of your words because they have great power.
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When all the books and articles and gurus don’t have the answers, sit quietly you are wiser than you think. And you are even wiser when you don’t think.
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