The Problem With Perfectionism

The fact that no one ever attains perfection in anything they do is a big problem for those who expect it from themselves and others. 

The difference between aiming for perfection and demanding it is a chasm leaders must come to terms with. Asking others to aim for perfection projects a high standard that motivates those driven toward excellence. But expecting or demanding perfection is another matter altogether. 

Leaders and performers who demand perfectionism are guaranteed to be continually disappointed. This leads to feelings of inadequacy and undermines confidence. 

Worse yet, the emotions and nerves of people who repeatedly fail against an impossible standard soon fray. They live with unnecessary stress and anxiety and often have an inability to enjoy the success they do achieve. 

Perfectionism is a curse that leaders and performers too often apply on purpose. Instead of encouraging high performance, it soon undermines the desire to take risks and work hard toward progress. It zaps the aspiration for achieving the very thing it demands. 

The pursuit of perfection, on the other hand, can be uplifting to those with the skills to achieve success. As the saying goes, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” 

Striving for excellence is an intrinsic motivation leaders can strengthen by challenging others to elevate their goals. 

Expecting more from yourself and others is a push even highly motivated people need on occasion. But don’t confuse challenge with demand. Pursuit and insistence are very different directives. Challenge creates energy while perfectionism destroys it. 

Perfectionists typically believe they can’t be successful if they or the team are not perfect. Ironically, research for more than a century reveals that over time, perfectionists are less successful than non-perfectionists at just about everything. 

Even in endeavors that require precision, perfectionism results in an extreme fear of failure and a hyperfocus on external validation that undermines long-term performance. 

When nothing you do is ever good enough, you eventually stop trying. Those who say that perfect is the enemy of good and great know what they are talking about. Those who believe in perfect sabotage themselves. Leaders who demand it demoralize the team. 

Winston Churchill almost perfectly described the effects of perfectionism in just three words: “Perfectionism spells paralysis.”