How to Manage Perfectionist Tendencies at Work

In today's work environment, where there's a lot of competition, we often feel the pressure to be perfect. While wanting to do well is understandable, being too focused on perfection can actually limit long-term career success. In this post, we'll discuss ways to recognize if you're a perfectionist, how perfectionism can hurt your work, and practical tips to manage workplace perfectionism.

Eight signs you may have perfectionist tendencies

1. Setting Unrealistic Standards: You set excessively high expectations for yourself and others, often feeling dissatisfied even with excellent results.
2. Fear of Failure: You have an intense fear of making mistakes or falling short, which may lead to avoiding new challenges or taking risks. 
3. All-or-Nothing Thinking: You view outcomes as either perfect or total failures, struggling to recognize the value of incremental progress or small victories.
4. Procrastination: You often find yourself delaying tasks or projects because you believe you can't complete them perfectly.
5. Excessive Self-Criticism: You are highly self-critical and tend to focus on your flaws and mistakes rather than acknowledging your achievements.
6. Micromanaging: You have difficulty delegating tasks, feeling the need to control every detail to ensure things are done "perfectly."
7. Perfectionistic Planning: You spend excessive time planning and organizing, often getting caught up in minor details rather than moving forward with getting things done.
8. Difficulty with Decision-Making: You find it challenging to make decisions because you fear making the wrong choice and strive for a flawless outcome.

Four reasons why perfectionist thinking is so toxic

When I was a kid, I was a self-proclaimed perfectionist and wore that badge with pride. I saw it as having a high bar for quality; however, there’s a fine line between excellence and perfection.  As an adult, I understand how much perfectionist thinking actually limits me, rather than helps me or anyone else forward in the world. Here are four ways  perfectionism can actually harm you:

1.  Uncontrolled Stress: The pursuit of perfection stresses everyone out, not just the perfectionist. This can lead to sleepless nights, tension headaches, and a constant state of anxiety that affects your own well-being and work performance, not to mention those around you.
2.  Lack of Collaboration and Limitation of Organizational Growth: Perfectionists tend to hold things tightly and not give others a chance to try. The need for perfection can hinder collaboration, as you struggle to trust others to meet your high standards, resulting in a breakdown of teamwork and missed opportunities for collective success. Ultimately, this limit’s the organization’s ability to grow, because people aren’t given opportunities to learn. 
3.  Innovation Blockage: Perfectionism stifles creativity and innovative thinking. The fear of making mistakes or deviating from the norm prevents you from exploring new ideas and finding unique solutions to challenges. Ultimately, this is to the detriment of your organization and can limit your own opportunities for professional growth.
4.  Damaged Morale and Neglected Relationships: Constantly striving for perfection can create an environment where everyone feels inadequate and demotivated, leading to decreased morale and a lack of enthusiasm. Colleagues may feel inadequate or criticized, leading to tension, resentment, and a lack of trust – and these are the main reasons why people leave jobs.

Recognizing these challenges allows you to take proactive steps in managing your perfectionism, fostering a more positive work environment, and nurturing healthier relationships with your colleagues. Remember, work should be a place of growth, collaboration, and enjoyment, rather than a never-ending quest for unattainable perfection.

Six ways to manage perfectionist tendencies at work

If you’re finding yourself caught in the never-ending pursuit of flawlessness or constantly second-guessing your decisions, these practical tips will provide you with the tools and strategies needed to navigate the challenges of perfectionism at work.

1. Embrace Mistakes as Learning Opportunities: View mistakes as valuable learning opportunities rather than personal failures. Embrace a growth mindset and use setbacks as chances to gain knowledge, improve skills, and develop resilience. Carol Dweck’s book, Mindset, does an amazing job talking about how shifting your mindset can help the way people approach challenges.
2. Seek Out Constructive Feedback: Instead of seeking constant validation, actively seek constructive feedback from colleagues or supervisors that you trust. Embrace feedback as an opportunity for growth and improvement, recognizing that it can help you refine your skills and enhance your work.
3. Practice Letting Go: Learn to let go of perfectionistic tendencies by embracing imperfections and accepting that some things are beyond your control. Practice flexibility and adaptability, focusing on what can be improved rather than fixating on unchangeable aspects. This is a challenging practice – start with small things and build from there!
4. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: Celebrate small wins and acknowledge that continuous improvement is more valuable than chasing an idealized outcome. At the end of each day, reflect on the ways you’ve taken a step closer to your goal, rather than looking at how far you are from meeting it. 
5. Prioritize and Delegate: Reframe delegation as an opportunity to develop others and build organizational capacity. Teach others the skills they need to get something done well, and check in with them along the way to give incremental feedback and see what questions they have.
6. Practice Self-Compassion: This is easier said than done, but it can be helpful to treat yourself with the same understanding and forgiveness that you would offer to others. Remember that mistakes and imperfections are a natural part of the learning process.

Remember, managing perfectionism is a gradual process, so be patient and gentle with yourself as you work towards finding an approach that promotes growth, well-being, and overall satisfaction in your work.  In addition to benefiting you, you’re also benefiting those around you!

Interested in talking about how to take a more healthy approach to work? Let’s chat