Why is it I care so much about everything at my job and take things seriously and hardly anyone else seems too? I tend to be a perfectionist and want to be the best I can be at what I do.
Perfectionism is a huge challenge for so many women. It can be a good thing when it motivates us to do our best. But, on the flip side, it can sabotage our success when it becomes an obsession, causing stress, exhaustion and disappointment.
I encourage women to embrace these principles.
• PERFECT IS THE ENEMY OF GREAT! If you wait around until you have something in perfect shape, you might miss an important deadline while you are wasting a lot of time. That can snowball into distrust between you and your coworkers, and ultimately may lead to poor performance reviews. Your reputation at work depends on how well you perform, not on how few mistakes you make.
• Embrace do-overs. If you make a mistake, don’t beat yourself up! Use a temporary obstacle to strategize going forward. Self-correct, find a better way, and keep moving forward. Don’t dwell on the missteps, and don’t take on the identity of your setback. Those who never push themselves to do better never fail.
• Don’t compare yourself to others. You were born with a unique set of gifts and skills that make you you. There is no one like you! Be proud of who you are, how far you have come and what you have to contribute to your team. Appreciate yourself and focus on what you have accomplished rather than what everyone else is doing. You have a unique contribution to the team, so do it proudly.
• Set your expectations on human standards. You are human, and you are expected to perform at human levels, not super-human. Setting the bar at unrealistic levels will certainly set you up for failure, so set your sights on goals that motivate you, not frustrate you. Don’t try to be Wonder Woman—she doesn’t exist!
Likely, your co-workers are living by the “good is good enough” rule, knowing that perfection is unattainable. They are who they are, they are happy where they are, and you can’t change how they perform. However, you CAN change your own attitude. Do your best, then let it go!
0 Answers
Mike Halsey wrote on :
It sounds like there is something to celebrate here, and maybe an energy drain or discomfort you would like to let go off. True? If so….
What is the excellent part of this? What part of your work life do you want to name, celebrate and even dive into more lovingly?
What is the crummy part? Is there some junk you are carrying that doesn’t at all belong to you?
Amy Cohen wrote on :
That is certainly something to be proud of, don’t ever change!
Susan Tolles wrote on :
Hi there!
Perfectionism is a huge challenge for so many women. It can be a good thing when it motivates us to do our best. But, on the flip side, it can sabotage our success when it becomes an obsession, causing stress, exhaustion and disappointment.
I encourage women to embrace these principles.
• PERFECT IS THE ENEMY OF GREAT! If you wait around until you have something in perfect shape, you might miss an important deadline while you are wasting a lot of time. That can snowball into distrust between you and your coworkers, and ultimately may lead to poor performance reviews. Your reputation at work depends on how well you perform, not on how few mistakes you make.
• Embrace do-overs. If you make a mistake, don’t beat yourself up! Use a temporary obstacle to strategize going forward. Self-correct, find a better way, and keep moving forward. Don’t dwell on the missteps, and don’t take on the identity of your setback. Those who never push themselves to do better never fail.
• Don’t compare yourself to others. You were born with a unique set of gifts and skills that make you you. There is no one like you! Be proud of who you are, how far you have come and what you have to contribute to your team. Appreciate yourself and focus on what you have accomplished rather than what everyone else is doing. You have a unique contribution to the team, so do it proudly.
• Set your expectations on human standards. You are human, and you are expected to perform at human levels, not super-human. Setting the bar at unrealistic levels will certainly set you up for failure, so set your sights on goals that motivate you, not frustrate you. Don’t try to be Wonder Woman—she doesn’t exist!
Likely, your co-workers are living by the “good is good enough” rule, knowing that perfection is unattainable. They are who they are, they are happy where they are, and you can’t change how they perform. However, you CAN change your own attitude. Do your best, then let it go!
Wishing you all the best!