Embracing Progress Over Perfection
How to Break Free from Perfectionism at Work
Perfectionism. It's a word many of us wear with a sense of pride, a badge of honour even. We think of ourselves as "perfectionists" in the workplace, striving for excellence in every task we tackle. But when is perfectionism no longer a virtue and starts to become a barrier to progress? In this post, we’ll unpack the hidden costs of perfectionism and explore how shifting from a perfection-focused mindset to one that embraces progress can unlock your potential, enhance team collaboration, and ultimately lead to more impactful leadership.
The Perils of Perfectionism
It’s easy to think that perfectionism is synonymous with high standards. In fact, most of us can relate to the desire to produce work that reflects our best efforts. However, there’s a crucial distinction between setting high standards and imposing unrealistic expectations on ourselves. Perfectionists often struggle with knowing when something is "good enough." As one of our podcast guests noted, "If we can't define what 'good enough' looks like, how can we ever feel confident that our work is complete?"
This lack of clarity around what constitutes "enough" can create a cycle of self-doubt, procrastination, and missed deadlines. When perfection is the goal, we may find ourselves stuck in a loop of revision, constantly refining and reworking a task until it consumes an unproductive amount of time and energy. The risk? We never actually finish anything.
Perfectionism also leads to self-criticism. When our output doesn't meet the high (and often unattainable) standards we've set for ourselves, it can take a toll on our self-esteem and confidence. This negative internal dialogue can spill over into how we view and interact with others, creating a culture of defensiveness and micromanagement. After all, if we demand perfection from ourselves, it’s tempting to hold others to the same impossibly high standards.
The Hidden Costs of Perfectionism
Perfectionism comes at a price, both professionally and personally. Let’s look at some of the costs:
Procrastination: Ironically, the desire to achieve perfection often leads to doing nothing at all. You may find yourself stuck in the planning phase, overthinking every detail before taking action. This "analysis paralysis" prevents you from moving forward and slows progress. One of our podcast hosts shared how they often find themselves stuck in the loop of wanting everything to be "just right" before even starting.
Stifled Creativity and Innovation: Perfectionism encourages rigidity. When you're overly focused on getting everything perfect, you miss out on the opportunity to experiment, learn from mistakes, and innovate. A willingness to make mistakes is key to developing new ideas and solving complex problems.
Team Collaboration Breakdown: When you're determined to perfect every aspect of your work, you may resist sharing your progress with colleagues or seeking feedback. However, collaboration is essential to producing high-quality work, and by not involving others early enough in the process, you miss out on diverse perspectives and may not fully understand the needs of your stakeholders.
Inefficiency: The pursuit of perfection often leads to diminishing returns. You might spend hours tweaking something that’s already good enough. While attention to detail is important, getting bogged down in small adjustments means you're not focusing on the bigger picture. Your energy could be better spent on moving projects forward, meeting deadlines, and ensuring your work aligns with strategic goals.
Burnout: Constantly striving for perfection is mentally and emotionally draining. The high level of self-criticism and the fear of failure can contribute to burnout, as perfectionists tend to overwork themselves in an attempt to meet impossible standards. Over time, this can lead to exhaustion, frustration, and disengagement.
Shifting the Mindset: From Perfection to Progress
While perfectionism isn’t inherently bad, it’s important to recognise when it becomes an obstacle. The key to overcoming perfectionism is shifting your focus from perfection to progress. Here's how:
1. Define "Good Enough"
Rather than aiming for an elusive "perfect" standard, establish clear benchmarks for success. What does "good enough" look like? This may vary depending on the task or project, but defining the key criteria for success will help you move forward without getting bogged down in endless revisions.
2. Embrace the Process, Not Just the Outcome
As one of our podcast guests shared, "Perfectionism is about focusing on the output, not the process." In strategic leadership, it's crucial to focus on the steps that lead to results, rather than obsessing over the final product. By embracing the process and taking incremental steps, you can manage your workload more effectively, avoid burnout, and improve your overall performance.
3. Start Somewhere (Even If It's Imperfect)
A brilliant quote from Stephen Bartlett sums it up perfectly: “Your first workout will be bad, your first podcast will be bad, your first speech will be bad, your first video will be bad. But you can’t make your hundredth without making your first.” The first step toward breaking free from perfectionism is to accept that starting is more important than being perfect. The sooner you begin, the sooner you can make improvements along the way.
4. Get Strategic with Feedback
Instead of waiting until a project is "perfect" to share it with others, aim for early feedback. Present drafts, outline your ideas, and get input from colleagues and stakeholders. This allows you to course-correct and improve your work in a collaborative way. The earlier you involve others, the more likely you are to align your work with the expectations of your team or clients.
5. Focus on What Matters
Perfectionists often fall into the trap of micromanaging every detail. However, strategic leadership requires zooming out and considering the bigger picture. Take a step back and ask yourself: What is the most important part of this task? What will make the biggest impact? By focusing on the 20% of work that delivers 80% of the value, you can optimise your efforts and achieve greater success without getting caught in the weeds.
6. Allow Yourself to Be Imperfect
A powerful way to overcome perfectionism is to deliberately engage in activities outside of work where imperfection is part of the process. Taking up a new hobby or skill, like learning to play a musical instrument or trying out a new sport, can help you embrace the discomfort of being a beginner and normalise the experience of not being perfect. This mindset can then be transferred to your professional life, making it easier to take risks and innovate without the fear of failure.
7. Reframe Mistakes as Learning Opportunities
Instead of seeing mistakes as failures, try to view them as opportunities to learn and grow. This shift in perspective helps reduce the fear of failure that often fuels perfectionism. When you focus on continuous improvement rather than perfect outcomes, you build resilience and adaptability — two essential qualities for success in leadership.
Conclusion
Perfectionism may seem like a trait that guarantees high standards, but when taken too far, it can stifle progress, hinder collaboration, and lead to burnout. By shifting the focus from perfection to progress, you not only free yourself from the burden of unrealistic expectations, but also create space for innovation, better teamwork, and strategic decision-making.
As we discussed in our podcast, the key is to define "good enough," embrace the process, and focus on progress rather than perfection. So, next time you feel the urge to obsess over every detail, take a step back, zoom out to the bigger picture, and remind yourself that in the world of leadership, progress is the better "P" word.
If you’d like to explore this topic further, or have any thoughts to share, we’d love to hear from you in the comments or on social media.
Let’s embrace progress together.