Think being a perfectionist will bring you happiness? Think again. This internal pressure can prevent you from advancing in your professional life.
You don’t need to be flawless. We’re saying it outright.
In fact, striving for perfection can impede your career growth.
So lighten up on yourself. Here are six ways perfectionism can hinder your work life — plus easy strategies for overcoming it.
The Issue: Difficulty Pivoting
Do you struggle to abandon old methods for new ones?
“Beware of thinking in extremes,” advises a certified professional coach.
Believing that anything less than perfect is a failure may cause you to overlook fantastic opportunities. If your boss wants you to present this year’s sales meeting update, instead of shying away, say yes! You can handle it.
By swapping negativity for a bit of optimism, you might uncover talents you never knew you had.
The Solution: Embrace Change
When faced with setbacks, ask yourself: What can I learn from this?
“Wisdom lies in knowing when to hold on and when to let go,” the coach continues. When you hit a roadblock, pose the question, “What’s the wisest choice here?” This way, you can shift to a more productive path.
The Issue: Strained Relationships
High expectations can lead you to impose those same standards on others. This pressure can make your colleagues uncomfortable.
“When companies seek promotions, they value results but also look for someone who fosters a comfortable environment,” the coach notes.
The Solution: Trust Your Team
Learn to accept good enough.
“Perfectionists often struggle with delegation, leading to micromanagement,” she explains. So what if your PowerPoint animations aren’t perfect? They’re still engaging.
When you step back and allow colleagues, friends, and family to take the reins, you’ll find their methods can be just as effective.
The Issue: Health Problems
The stress of aiming for perfection can negatively impact your health.
A study from Trinity Western University published in a health psychology journal found that those with a high need for perfection had a 51 percent increased risk of premature death compared to those with lower perfectionism levels.
The culprit? The stress to excel can elevate hormones like cortisol. Chronic high cortisol levels can lead to serious health issues, including heart disease, according to health experts.
The Solution: Acknowledge Your Perfectionism
“Perfectionists often react to stress by working harder, leading to fatigue and headaches,” says the coach. “Feeling tense or irritable? That’s a sign perfectionism is in control.” Recognizing these signs is the first step; take a break when you notice them.
The Issue: Increased Risk of Depression
Perfectionists aren’t basking in the glow of success.
In fact, they’re more vulnerable to serious mental health issues such as depression, according to psychological research.
When researchers evaluated perfectionists, they found many exhibited self-criticism and a profound sense of failure, overshadowing the pride that should come from a job well done.
The Solution: Embrace Mistakes
What? Yes! Making mistakes can actually be beneficial. This approach is known as exposure therapy, and a life coach highly recommends it.
Try intentionally making small errors and leaving them be. Seriously! You’ll realize that minor mistakes, like forgetting a comma in an email, don’t ruin the entire project — and that’s perfectly fine. In fact, it’s liberating.
The Issue: Procrastination
Do you struggle to kick off new tasks? Interestingly, a connection exists between perfectionism and procrastination.
“Many perfectionists spend excessive time preparing,” a life coach explains. The fear of failing can be so intense that it stifles your ability to start.
The Solution: Prioritize
Rearrange your priorities, so perfection isn’t at the top.
Utilize the Pareto principle, or the 80:20 rule. “Pareto stated that 20 percent of our efforts yield 80 percent of our results, while the remaining 80 percent of our time accounts for just 20 percent of the work,” she advises.
If time slips away because you fixate on one detail, take a step back and ask, “Is this truly important?”
If unsure, consult your supervisor for guidance on prioritization.
The Issue: Avoiding New Experiences
When focused on achieving perfection, you might shy away from situations you fear could make you look bad. This avoidance can cost you valuable experiences and opportunities.
“Perfectionists are always striving to get it right the first time,” the coach explains.
The Solution: View Everything as a Draft
“I love the idea of treating life as a rough draft,” she shares. “This mindset reminds us that we often have multiple chances to improve, learn, and grow. Making a mistake in our draft signifies nothing more than our humanity.”
So go ahead and hit that karaoke bar with your colleagues, even if you can’t sing. Flaws can be fabulous.
