In most classes, if you get 90% of the answers right you get an A. And that’s pretty good! A straight A student is right 90% of the time. But there are lots of times when this isn’t good enough.
Consider the example of a symphony orchestra.
If there are 100 players in the orchestra and each is right 90% of the time, then at any given point in the performance 10 people are playing the wrong note. Even an untrained ear would notice that. At 99%, the there is consistently one wrong note being played - constantly. Orchestra’s operate at a much higher level of accuracy than that - and so should you.
That level of accuracy is not a result of having an excellent conductor (leader). It’s a result of the accumulated skill and practice of each orchestra member. Each member is an expert at playing their instrument. Not only are they getting a remarkably high percentage of the notes right, but they are doing so with near perfect timing, articulation, volume, and tone.
Typically, in business, the work of lower level employees is reviewed by managers before being shared further. There is no such check in an orchestral performance - the first draft goes ‘out the door’. All team members regardless of level should be focused on executing at the highest level without relying on others to check their work. Of course, work should still be checked, but that shouldn’t be the first line of defense.
Businesses stress ‘attention to detail’ as a desirable attribute - Let the example of an orchestra help to guide your understanding of what that truly means and consider how you might instill this attribute as a core competency in your teams.