Perfectionism is not the same thing as striving to be our best. Perfectionism is not about healthy achievement and growth; it’s a shield.
– Brene Brown
People with perfectionism tend to hold themselves to impossibly high standards. They think what they do is never good enough which often leads to intense anxiety, procrastination, and imposter syndrome. It erodes self-confidence because one never feels good enough.
Read on for an insight into identifying and overcoming perfectionism at work.
Signs you could be a perfectionist:
- Do you often hold yourself to impossible standards?
- Do you feel defeated if you don’t meet those standards?
- If you do reach them, do you attribute it to luck, or something unrelated to your competence?
- Do you struggle to delegate and share tasks with your colleagues out of concern you can do it better?
If you answered yes to most of these questions, then you might be a perfectionist.
What are the downsides of perfectionism?
Due to the perception that you are not enough, you might work long hours without taking breaks, overpreparing for meetings, and motivating yourself through self-criticism and self-doubt. As a perfectionist, you’re running the risk of neglecting your own needs physically and mentally.
Perfectionists tend to dwell in the comfort of the familiar rather than taking on new challenges and opportunities which may hinder your progress in the workplace.
It is critical to address perfectionism so that it does not lead to mental health problems or exacerbate pre-existing ones. When we believe perfection is the ultimate goal, we prevent ourselves from exploring our full potential.
How to manage perfectionism in the workplace
- Acknowledge your behaviour. Understanding your perfectionist tendencies is the first step to managing them.
- Set realistic goals and expectations. Sometimes the sky isn’t the limit. Setting goals that take your ability and availability into account is essential.
- Don’t fear failure. Whether we like it or not, failure is a part of life. In a world where we always succeed, we wouldn’t learn anything new.
- Stay in the present. Avoid worrying about future mistakes and choose to stay focused on the moment and let go of past missteps.
- Celebrate the little wins. It is important to celebrate your accomplishments – even the small ones. When we celebrate small wins, we acquire a sense of self-confidence that sets us up to accomplish bigger ones.
It is only through failure that you can learn what works and what doesn’t. An irrational mindset leads to negative thinking patterns and increased mental health issues. When things don’t go as planned, it’s easy to berate yourself, which is why you need to switch your negative self-talk to a positive one. Instead of thinking “I’m not good enough,” tell yourself “I am trying my best and I’m improving every day.”
The burden of perfectionism can be shed by altering your self-talk, setting realistic goals, and focusing on the positives.
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