Perfectionism is an awesome thing in theory. It produces work with exceptional results, delivered well, with few if any errors. At least, that’s the promise. The reality is something altogether different. Perfectionism is frustrating, can be debilitating and is more often than not exhausting. Behind the striving for excellence is the anxiety of not quite being good enough, of not measuring up and clearing the bar. That has a number of negative consequences, not just for the perfectionist, but for those around them. Moving past it requires understanding first off where perfectionism comes from and why it exists.
Done vs. Done Well
How we think about work is perceptual. How we approach it is critical. We can just do the work, or we can invest the effort to do it well. Why I think that’s important.
Holding Ourselves Accountable
Accountability is a complex and difficult thing. We expect it of others, but reserve wiggle room for ourselves. Especially when we are making promises to our selves. The need to set ourselves up for success, rather than leaving the door open for failure.