How to Manage Your Perfectionism
Perfectionism, a double-edged sword, can propel you to unimaginable heights or plunge you into the depths of self-doubt. Unravel the complexities of managing this trait, transforming it from a relentless taskmaster into a powerful ally for personal growth and success.
Reining in your perfectionistic tendencies is not as hard as it sounds
Perfectionism can motivate you to perform at a high level and deliver top-quality work
- It can cause you unnecessary anxiety and slow you down
- To harness the positives of your perfectionism while mitigating the negatives, what measures or practices can you use?
- Create a checklist
- Recognize opportunity cost and time cost of your behavior
- Adjust your standards
- See the big picture
- Shift your mindset
- Be less perfect about some things so you can concentrate on what’s important
- Break the cycle
Ask for help
Reach out to a friend or colleague and “talking through ideas” helps her see that she has something to offer
- Colleagues also give her perspective on her work
- Perfectionists tend to focus on what needs to be fixed and negate everything that’s good
Case Study #1: Shift your mindset and get comfortable with imperfection
Stacy Caprio’s perfectionism led her to avoid certain tasks
- “I never wanted to start something unless I knew exactly how to do it,” she says. “It literally stopped me from doing new things.”
Case Study #2: Seek support and perspective and focus on the big picture
Stacy Schoeder, a professional certified coach based in Omaha, Nebraska, admits she is a “recovering perfectionist.”
- While her perfectionism has helped her excel professionally, it has also contributed to feelings of insecurity.
- Just because something is perfect doesn’t mean it is. She needs feedback from others, especially customers, so that she can change the product over time.