“Perfectionism is not about healthy achievement and growth; it’s a shield.”
– Brene Brown
During a recent coaching discussion, I reminded a client that perfectionism is a deceptive impulse that hinders personal growth, team morale, and confidence. Over the long run, it will always take you down. Can we have an honest discussion and dive into why perfectionism isn’t your friend, and more than likely, your enemy?
Perfectionism is a cunning inner voice that promises excellence but delivers anxiousness, exhaustion, and lack of joy. This imposter masquerades as your friend but turns out to be your foe. Want to know a little secret? When we strive for perfectionism (versus growth), we set ourselves up for a fall. You anchor an expectation that can never be met, and it comes at a price.
So, what will perfectionism cost you? Let’s explore together.
- PROCRASTINATION: Imagine this: you’re working on a big customer project and perfectionism takes over. Soon, you over-complicate, overthink, and wait too long to bring the idea to life. Suddenly, the project is buried under the weight of self-imposed standards and nit-picky nonessentials. Let’s be honest, you’ve succumbed to perfectionism and the imposter.
Research confirms that perfectionism fuels indecision like gas on a fire. A study published in the Journal of Research in Personality found that perfectionists often delay tasks to avoid falling short of their daunting high standards. So instead of launching your idea, you’re refining the font size of your work. After finally completing it, you learn you’ve lost the deal.
- BURNOUT: Research published in the Personality and Social Psychology Review indicates that perfectionists are more prone to experiencing anxiety and fear of failure. This feeling of panic can prevent individuals and teams from exploring new ideas or methods that could lead to breakthroughs.
Perfectionists tend to work all the time, attempting to achieve flawless results, leading to exhaustion, frustration, and poor emotional health. Analysis conducted by Stoeber and Otto found a strong link between perfectionism and fatigue across multiple industries and diverse ages. When we feel tired or weary, we lose our capacity to successfully lead.
Thomas Curran, author of The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough, also discovered in his research that there is not a positive correlation between perfectionism and higher workplace performance. It is a myth that zaps energy, frustrates families, and wastes valuable time.
- CREATIVITY KILLER: Innovation is fueled by creativity, vulnerability, and the courage to confront the unknown. Enter perfectionism: the anti-innovation mindset. Imagine this: you’re in a team meeting sharing new product ideas and your boss interrupts with, “The last time we created a custom pack for Walmart it failed.” Surprisingly, your boss just killed the meeting. Perfectionists love to dampen a good meeting not because they have high standards, but because they set irrational ones.
Studies highlighted in Harvard Business Review reveal that teams driven by perfectionism are less likely to take risks. Why? Because perfectionists avoid uncertainty and worry they may look foolish. They pass on ideas that could be fruitful and allow competitors a first-to-market advantage. They play it safe, modeling fear for their teams instead of encouraging energy and confidence. It is not their intention, but they create anxious cultures.
Do you need to make peace with perfectionism? Take a moment to reflect on these seven questions and honestly assess how you are faring.
MAKING PEACE WITH PERFECTIONISM
- Can you practice saying, “I don’t know, yet?”
- Can you embrace disappointment, and openly discuss lessons learned after a failure?
- Can you achieve at a high level without needing recognition from others?
- Does every project demand extreme effort, or can you choose which initiatives get your top energy?
- Do you know how to laugh, relax and be playful during breaks throughout the day?
- Do you take time out of your day to walk, breathe, or listen to music – restoring your spirit?
- Do you practice new skills at the edge of your comfort level, or do you retract back to safety?
DANCE WITH YOUR FLAWS
Perfectionism might dress itself up as a friend, but it’s a party killer. It fuels stress, inhibits creativity, and thrives on transforming leaders into anxious control freaks. It sets a bar that is never achievable.
Can you dance with your imperfections, committing to progress, not perfection? It is not a bad philosophy to understand that sometimes, “good enough” is “good enough.”
“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor.”
– Annie Lamont
