No Substitute for Quality
In Erikson’s color model, Blue describes someone who values precision and exacting standards. Such a person may invest time in preventing mistakes and judge colleagues by the quality of their work, while overlooking the cost of excessive checking.
THE IDEA
There's No Substitute for Quality
Quality is what drives a Blue. Everything else is secondary. Everything else he focuses on stems from a deeply rooted desire that everything must be perfect. A Blue is discontented if he’s not allowed to perform his work to an exacting standard. It has nothing to do with what quality of work is actually needed. It’s simply due to his belief that things must always be done the proper way.
This, of course, takes a huge amount of time. But the advantage is obvious—if you do it right from the beginning, you will avoid having to redo it. This is actually a great way of saving time. But since a Blue does not think in terms of hours, days, or even weeks—but rather in months and years—he doesn’t see the potential downside of his exacting standards. If a thing is worth doing, it’s worth doing right—and that takes time. It’s as simple as that.
Conclusion: Be particularly meticulous in your work when trying to impress a Blue; otherwise, he will view you as sloppy and careless. You should be on your guard about expressing yourself using negative terms concerning how the Blue spends too much time just on quality. Use words like “careful control,” “properly inspected,” “the importance of quality.” Avoid criticizing Blues for taking too much time or fussing over details that may be unnecessary. Instead, praise them for their attention to detail and the superior work they do. Let the Blue understand that you are doing quality work and that you understand its value.
This means that you should prepare very carefully before any meetings with a Blue. He judges you by the merit of the work you create. Not by how funny you are, not by who you know, not by whether or not you invite him to fancy lunches. None of this means anything if you are careless. When you are finished with a task—double-check it. If possible—triple-check. Have someone else look at it. Only then should you show it to your Blue colleague.
When to use it
Preparing a detailed report for a boss known for high standards.
Reviewing financial statements or legal documents where errors are costly.
Developing a product feature where user trust depends on flawless execution.
Designing a training manual that must be clear and error-free for a critical audience.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Software Development
A senior developer values clean, well-documented code and runs extensive tests before committing. Those habits can prevent bugs and rework, though the team still needs to agree how much checking a particular change warrants.
Client Presentation
A project manager checks every slide and data point before a client presentation. This illustrates the attention to detail Erikson associates with Blue traits.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
Can you recall a time when focusing excessively on quality caused a delay but ultimately prevented a bigger problem?
How would you adapt your communication style to work effectively with a colleague who values perfection?
In which areas of your life does the 'No Substitute for Quality' principle serve you well, and where might it lead to diminishing returns?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Surrounded By Idiots (Thomas Erikson)