Friday, February 15, 2019

Pobody’s Nerfect

In our dog-eat-dog world, perfectionism is prized—but often comes with a price

Perfectionism has its benefits, especially at work and in professions where there is no margin for error. Pursuing high standards, attention to detail, and looking for ways to improve are positive traits to possess. But it can also be a problem. As Voltaire said, “Perfect is the enemy of the good.”

4 Signs Your Perfectionism Is a Problem

1. You procrastinate. – If you can’t do something perfectly, why do it at all? Many perfectionists are so paralyzed by perfectionism that they put things off—or never even do them.

2. You avoid new things. – The fear of failure looms large, robbing you of enjoying new experiences and developing new skills.

3. You conceal mistakes. – Rather than learn from your mistakes and receive crucial feedback, you pretend that you always perform perfectly, which can stunt your growth in the long run.

4. You focus on the negative. – When you inevitably make mistakes, you obsess over them and dismiss any successes.

3 Types of Perfectionism

1. Self-oriented (desire to be perfect) – I must complete every task perfectly, or I am a complete failure.

2. Socially prescribed (desire to live up to others’ expectations) – My boss and coworkers won’t accept or value me if I’m not perfect.

3. Other-oriented (holding others to unrealistic standards) – My coworkers must be perfect, or I’ll assume they’re useless.

4 Ways to Push Past Perfectionism

1. Find freedom in flaws. – Most perfectionists seek perfection in every aspect of their lives, not just at work. Live with a little clutter or disorder and see how little difference it makes.

2. Focus on effort rather than outcome. – If your finished product is less than perfect, acknowledge the hard work and effort it took to bring the project to completion.

3. Ask for feedback. – Seek constructive criticism regularly so you get used to hearing it without feeling judged.

4. Press pause on projected perfectionism. – Despite the filtered sheen of people’s lives presented on social media, everyone has their foibles and flaws. Everyone’s on a journey with bumps along the way—and so are you!

Source: Forbes

Pobody’s Nerfect

4 Signs Your Perfectionism Is a Problem

3 Types of Perfectionism

4 Ways to Push Past Perfectionism

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