Perfectionism is a pain in the Gluteus Maximus.
The reason is that perfectionists
- obsess unnecessarily about the details of a decision
- sweat the uncertainties of the situation
- sometimes miss deadlines
- turn themselves into emotional pretzels
- kill themselves with worry.
Here are some perfectionism-changing behaviors to help you reduce stress and execute tasks more efficiently.
1. Aim for Excellence, not Perfection
Recently, I asked a leader why her perfectionism was a problem for her?’ The answer she flashed back was, “You can never achieve it.”
“So why do you set the bar of performance so unbelievably high for yourself?” I asked.
What she said next was telling about the burden she put on herself (and others).
“As a woman leader, I have to work twice as hard as a man to be recognized by senior leadership. I also try to avoid being criticized for anything short of perfection”.
That was a lot of self-awareness packed into a few words. She had nailed the WHY of her condition. However, she was stuck on how to move on from her self-paralysis.