Perfectionism is often celebrated as a hallmark of high achievers—those who set the bar high, push themselves relentlessly, and refuse to settle for anything less than the best. On the surface, this drive for excellence seems like a surefire recipe for success. After all, what could be wrong with striving to do things flawlessly? However, beneath the veneer of this admirable quality lies a hidden trap. Perfectionism, when taken too far, can do more harm than good, leading to a range of issues that can stifle both personal and professional growth.
While perfectionism might seem like a strength, it can actually lead to significant challenges at work, and in life.
Here's how:
1. It can get in the way of your success:
Stifled ambition. The relentless pursuit of perfection often leads to setting unrealistically high standards. This creates an overwhelming sense of pressure, which can cause procrastination. The fear of not achieving a flawless outcome makes it difficult to even start a task.
Wasted time and energy. Once a task is started, perfectionists tend to get caught up in obsessing over every detail. This can result in endless revisions and tweaks, consuming valuable time and energy that could be better spent elsewhere.
Missed deadlines and opportunities. The quest for perfection can lead to delays, as tasks are continually revised in the search for flawlessness. This can result in missed deadlines and give the impression of inefficiency, potentially limiting career growth and opportunities.
Difficulty with delegation. Perfectionists often struggle to delegate tasks, fearing that others won’t meet their high standards. This reluctance to delegate can hinder team collaboration and prevent you from taking on new challenges or responsibilities.
2. It can damage your wellbeing:
Increased anxiety and burnout. The constant self-criticism and fear of making mistakes can lead to chronic anxiety and eventual burnout. The pressure to be perfect all the time is mentally and emotionally exhausting, leaving little room for rest and recovery.
Persistent dissatisfaction. Perfectionists often focus on their perceived shortcomings rather than their achievements. This can create a cycle of negativity, where even significant accomplishments are overshadowed by what could have been done better, leading to a persistent sense of dissatisfaction.
Eroded confidence and motivation. When perfection becomes the standard, even small mistakes can feel like major failures. This can erode confidence and diminish motivation, making it harder to take risks or pursue new opportunities.
How can perfectionists break free from these self-imposed limitations and set goals that are both ambitious and achievable?
Seven goal setting strategies for perfectionists:
1. Redefine Success
Perfectionists tend to equate success with flawlessness, which often leads to frustration when things don’t go perfectly. Redefining success to include progress, learning, and improvement can alleviate the pressure to be perfect all the time.
Strategy: Focus on achieving key milestones rather than perfection in every detail. Define what success looks like at each stage of your goal and recognise that incremental progress is a victory. This approach allows for continuous forward movement, rather than getting stuck in the pursuit of an unattainable ideal.
2. Implement "Minimum Viable Progress"
Breaking goals down into smaller, more manageable steps is essential, but even these steps can seem overwhelming for a perfectionist. Instead, consider what the minimum viable progress looks like—the smallest step forward that still counts as progress.
Strategy: Establish a daily or weekly minimum task that moves you closer to your goal, no matter how small. This method helps maintain momentum without being paralysed by the desire to do everything perfectly. Over time, these small steps accumulate, making the larger goal feel more attainable.
3. Adopt Flexible Planning
Rigid plans often lead to burnout for perfectionists. When the inevitable hiccup occurs, it can feel like the whole plan has failed. Adopting a more flexible approach allows for adjustments along the way without derailing your progress.
Strategy: Create a plan that includes buffer time for unexpected challenges. For each goal, outline alternative routes to success. This flexibility ensures that setbacks don’t feel like failures, but rather opportunities to adapt and continue moving forward.
4. Prioritise Impact Over Perfection
Perfectionists often waste time perfecting tasks that have little impact on the overall goal. By focusing on what truly drives success, you can allocate your time and energy more effectively.
Strategy: Categorise tasks based on their importance and urgency. Focus on high-impact tasks that move the needle on your goals. This helps channel perfectionist tendencies towards the most critical aspects of a project, while allowing less important tasks to be done "good enough."
5. Set Boundaries on Time and Effort
Without clear boundaries, perfectionists can spend endless hours refining a task that doesn’t need refining. Setting limits on the amount of time and effort you’re willing to invest can prevent this.
Strategy: Work in focused intervals then take a short break. This method creates natural stopping points, encouraging you to finish tasks within a set timeframe. Once the time is up, move on to the next task, even if it’s not perfect.
6. Incorporate Regular Reflection and Adjustment
Perfectionists often avoid evaluating their progress until they’ve completed a task, fearing they’ll find flaws. However, regular reflection can provide valuable insights that lead to better outcomes and more realistic goal-setting.
Strategy: Schedule brief, regular check-ins with yourself or your team to assess progress and make adjustments. Ask questions like, "What’s working?" and "What could be improved?" This habit of ongoing reflection reduces the pressure to be perfect from the start, allowing for course corrections that lead to greater success.
7. Practice Gratitude for Achievements
Perfectionists tend to focus on what hasn’t been done rather than what has been accomplished. Shifting focus to what’s already been achieved can build confidence and motivation.
Strategy: At the end of each day or week, write down three things you accomplished. They don’t have to be major milestones; even small achievements count. This practice helps reinforce the habit of acknowledging progress, making it easier to set realistic goals and appreciate the journey.
For perfectionists, setting realistic goals requires a balance between striving for excellence and accepting imperfection. By redefining success, breaking goals into manageable steps, and prioritizing impact, it’s possible to achieve meaningful progress without getting bogged down by the pursuit of perfection. Embracing flexibility, setting boundaries, and reflecting regularly can further enhance your ability to set and achieve goals that are both ambitious and attainable. Ultimately, the path to success lies in progress, not perfection.