Do you set yourself very high goals and expect nothing less than perfection? Are you constantly striving for excellence and attention to every detail? If so, you may be a perfectionist.
While some aspects of perfectionism can be a positive – setting high standards, motivating you to work hard and take pride in your work- it can also be debilitating, causing you to obsess over small details and mistakes, and holding yourself to impossibly high standards. Perfectionist leaders often struggle with delegation and trust, which can lead to inefficiency and a lack of collaboration.
Take the time to reflect on how your perfectionism may be impacting your leadership.
Do you feel the need to control every aspect of each project, even if it means micromanaging your team? Are your team members frustrated, demotivated, feeling that their skills and expertise are not being valued? Has anyone told you that your standards are too high?
Do you feel like you are never good enough? Burnt out?
As a leader, your perfectionism may be hurting you and your team.
Try these steps to be less of a perfectionist:
1. Set realistic goals: try setting goals that are challenging but achievable. This approach can help you stay motivated while also reducing the pressure you put on yourself and others.
2. Embrace failure: Perfectionists often struggle with failure, but it’s an inevitable part of life. Instead of avoiding failure, try embracing it as an opportunity to learn and grow. This mindset can help you become more resilient and better able to handle setbacks.
3. Delegate: Try delegating responsibilities to others on your team and trust them to do the job well. This approach can help you build a more collaborative and effective team.
4. Practice self-care: Perfectionists can be prone to burnout because they’re always pushing themselves to the limit. It’s essential to take care of yourself by getting enough rest, exercise, and downtime.
How is your perfectionism affecting you? How is it impacting your team?