Have you ever read a job listing that describes a perfectionist search? The hiring company must surely have the best intentions:they want someone who will work hard to do the job well. But if she really demands perfection, unfortunately she may never get the job done.
Perfectionism is one of those sneaky things that can either propel you into serious action or cripple your ability to accomplish even the most basic tasks. Often those who struggle with perfectionism have problems letting go of control. Within them lies a deep-seated fear of failure. Facing logic, unhealthy perfectionists believe that if they take into account everything that would happen, they can ensure that any task in front of them becomes infallible. Or they spend so much time planning and researching the task that they never start in the first place.
Related: 9 Reasons Perfectionism Is Bad
Here are some tips for refocusing your perfectionist tendencies in better avenues:
1. Accept the result.
If you're having trouble submitting an assignment that you think is less than 100%, create a worst-case scenario list. Are you going to lose your business? Will your reputation be ruined? Are you going to go bankrupt? Probably not. But will ruminating on this project prevent you from other important work? Absoutely. This frightening and obsessive questioning can be paralyzing.
2. Change your perspective.
The positive side of perfectionism is the idea that you possess a drive and level of detailed attention that is unmatched by many. The problem occurs, however, when you get so caught up in the details that you don't see what you're really trying to create. Show yourself some compassion and understand that perfectionism isn't a dirty word or a medal-worthy attribute.
Perfectionism is one of those sneaky things that can either propel you into serious action or cripple your ability to complete even the most basic of tasks.
3. Dedication versus Obsession.
Entrepreneurs, especially new ones, have a deep desire to offer their product or service to the world as they imagine it. That kind of vision and dedication probably contributed to their choosing this path. It's a gift. But don't confuse the bad with the good. Being dedicated and meticulous is not the same as being obsessive and brooding.
4. Channel your energy wisely.
Doing something is often more valuable than doing something good. What good is being a perfectionist, after all, if your perfect job never sees the light of day? Some entrepreneurs might find it difficult to abandon a project, far past the point of diminishing returns. What other tasks need your attention that have been overlooked while you tinker and obsess over a task that should have been done a few days ago?
5. Surrender control.
One strategy for reclaiming perfectionists is to deliberately relinquish tasks that once crippled them. If you already have a team in place, it should be a smooth transition. You hired them because they already have the knowledge and skills to help your business succeed. Let them do their job, but also understand that mistakes are going to be made.
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Related:The Secret to Ending Perfection Paralysis
Julie Burton
Founder and CEO of ModernWell, Minnesota
As an entrepreneur, I believe that being honest about my struggles with perfectionism helped create and grow ModernWell. While perfectionism can mask itself as “hardworking,” “detail-oriented,” and “holding high standards” — all of which are important — the negative aspects of perfectionism can bring a person and a business down.
The Feeling to walk in uncharted waters and need to make decisions using both knowledge and intuition – often without real certainty – can be excruciating for anyone. I remember so many times crying for my husband and saying, “I don't know what I'm doing. It's all so scary and confusing. And he, who has been running a business for three decades, would respond with a few variations of this message:“Welcome to the world of business management. That's what I feel every day. »
Here is my advice:
Read all of Brené Brown's books.
Create an advisory board of people who will challenge you, help you build confidence in your leadership, and offer trusted advice.
Create a safe environment for you and your team members to share your feedback. Ask team members for help when you get stuck.
Be okay with delegation. Everything may not be done exactly as you would, but that doesn't mean things won't be done right. Be clear in your expectations with your team and also understand that no one, including you, is perfect.
Be compassionate with yourself and with others. Perfectionism struggles to live when compassion comes into play. Embrace the human condition, which is certainly imperfect.
Lance J. Robinson
Owner and Lead Attorney, Louisiana
As a lawyer who started his own small law firm, it was easy to feel the need to be a perfectionist. I wanted to help my clients in any way I could, both as a lawyer and as a business owner. While striving to be perfect can be a good thing, it can also get in the way of your success.
Being a perfectionist can be stressful, both personally and professionally. If you spend all your time and energy perfecting your work, your personal life will suffer. You can also spend too much time perfecting work you've already completed, which can slow you down and prevent you from doing other important tasks. When absolute perfection is your goal, you'll be hesitant to take risks.
To overcome this, you need to find a happy medium. For me, that means keeping my skills sharp, trusting my experience and expertise, and working hard to do my best. You'll find that when you stay current in your field and focus on helping your customers, you don't have to worry about being perfect.
Ketan Kapoor
Co-founder of Mercer Mettl, Gurugram, India
Trying to be perfect has often held me back. Mettl's first model for cognitive and psychometric assessments took a while because we weren't sure it was fully ready to launch and be accepted in the market.
We worked hard to put assessments on market and when planning content for our marketing initiatives, I was still unsure if this hard-earned data was ready. I kept delaying. This content finally helped us in an unprecedented way. Today, these assessments are very different from the ones we started with. They have been calibrated time and time again to meet customer demands.
It taught me a powerful lesson:success happens in madness. Not when everything is under control and perfect.
The pursuit of perfection is great as long as you know where to draw the line and balance it effectively. A good balance is doing the best job you can, but expecting the learning curve that comes with failure and error. If you keep chasing after perfection, you will never fail. But you'll never get started either.
If you already have a team in place, it should be a smooth transition.
Related:From a Perfectionist in Recovery:Stop Saying "Loss of time”
