10/19/2021

Three Ways to Overcome your Penchant for Perfectionism

How to avoid the perils of perfectionism

During a profound and vulnerable conversation, one of my clients — an executive stakeholder for a Fortune 100 company — recently gifted me with this revelation about the unrealistic, even damaging expectations underlining modern workplace dynamics.

The expectation that leaders and managers can be perfect is paralyzing and a huge detriment to performance. I have personally struggled with perfectionism, at least to the extent of being afraid or anxious about making mistakes. But perfectionism, a growing trend in a young generation craving validation, is both a sure recipe for suffering and the enemy of progress. It slows you down and limits the performance potential of a person and a team.

While perfectionism is rooted in fear and insecurity, innovation requires risk — and taking risks means you’re going to make mistakes. When you try something new, you sometimes fail. That’s part of the process. Success is iterative.

Please select this link to read the complete blog post from Prepare for Impact.