Perfectionism ostensibly is the ideal trait for an employee: bosses love perfectionists and clients tend to favour the perfectionist. However, the psychology of a perfectionist is complicated. One factor which can lead to perfectionism is a deep routed insecurity and a desire to surpass those around them. The need for continual affirmation from employers is directly linked to this insecurity. However, realistically, the desire for affirmation cannot be continually met leading to a feeling of failure and unhappiness. Sounds familiar?
Absolute care and meticulousness to every detail, continual corrections, pressure and stress on identifying mistakes, more corrections and the final product, when delivered, is absolute perfection…… Or maybe some more changes have to be made to your work in order for you to be completely satisfied with the result. If you can relate to this, then we're not simply talking about consistency and professionalism, we're talking about perfectionism in the workplace.
To always aim high and wanting your work to be first rate is both understandable and desirable. After all, this is the way you will be able to develop professionally and achieve your goals. Setting high standards and high performance go hand in hand. However, aiming too high and often unrealistically so, no room for errors and the constant pursuit of perfection can make your life in the workplace untenable in a variety of ways.
Teamwork
Wanting things done your way. After all, your way is the right way and the most effective! However, this could cause friction with your colleagues who may have a completely different opinion, approach and method. Your intractable stance and perfectionism in the workplace projects an image of a difficult coworker with whom few will want to work and which will result in your being isolated.
Trust the members of your team, explore the way in which you see things and work, and allow room for experimentation and mistakes. You'll be able to better delegate your work, you'll be less stressed and you'll be able to manage your time and the end result will be equally good if not better!
The Devil's in the Detail
It is said that the devil is in the detail and, in most cases, this is true. However, spending half an hour on an insignificant detail is simply unproductive. Time is money and whether you're an employer or an employee, it is much more important to concentrate on that which is objectively significant. Don't waste your time on inconsequential details. Prioritise wisely the work you need to complete throughout the day without allowing unimportant details to distract you and your perfectionism to become an issue and hinder you.
Helpless
Seeing as you have an absolute way of thinking - all or nothing - and you are always seeking perfection in whatever you do, it goes without saying that you do not trust anyone and, as a consequence, never ask for help or advice. No one can do it like you anyway!
Therefore, even when under pressure or difficulty, you prefer to try and tackle things alone and spend precious hours trying to find that perfect solution. This makes you less productive as you spend hours on one problem when you could be doing so much more if you would just ask for some assistance. By not asking for help, you are also limiting your own professional growth and development by not observing different ways of tackling issues that others may adopt.
Stay Real
In your continual pursuit of perfection you will undoubtedly have felt disappointment, anxiety and anger, both in the workplace and out, as reality does not live up to your expectations. Your need to achieve absolute perfection will always leave you feeling unfulfilled even though your work may be excellent. Try and set realistic and achievable goals so as to feel successful in your work. Organise your work in accordance with your abilities, both physically and psychologically, and not exclusively in accordance with your skills. By doing this you will make your work fit your abilities thus avoiding the constant reprimands of your inner monologue of not achieving those unrealistic goals. Your perfectionism in the workplace demands adaptability on your part.
Nobody's Perfect
Always aiming for excellence in whatever you do is one of the main factors which will allow you to elevate yourself within the workplace and to develop professionally. Mistakes, failures, criticism and rejection are all unavoidable both in our personal and professional lives. But this is how we grow and how we learn and improve. Allow yourself to fail and to make mistakes - it's not the end of the world. You'll be happier for it. No one is perfect; don't ever forget that, not even you!
