How to manage perfectionism in the workplace?

Business owners want their employees to produce the intended results. It is safe to assume that perfectionists are highly desirable employees, but opinions on the subject vary. What is perfectionism and how can it affect our professional effectiveness? Read on to find out more.

What is perfectionism?

Perfectionism is a personality trait that manifests itself both in private and professional life. This behavior involves constantly striving for perfection and having a tendency to set unrealistically high standards for yourself and/or others.

Does perfectionism make it harder to work?

Although the goal of any task is to get it right, some employees overdo it. Extreme perfectionism can have a negative impact on the implementation of the company’s strategy. Lack of satisfaction with your own results and constant fine-tuning of details can prolong work on a given project. At the same time, such actions can affect an employee’s productivity and even hinder teamwork.

It is worth keeping an eye on the first signs of excessive perfectionism, as it can develop and make us unhappy not only in our professional but also in our personal lives. Ultimately, it can lead to illnesses such as depression or eating disorders.

Ways to combat perfectionism

The idea is not to eliminate perfectionism altogether, but not to focus excessively on correcting one thing. If the task has been completed according to the guidelines, finish it rather than over-analyze its correctness. Here are some ways to make tasks easier to complete.

1. Set priorities

At work, we are faced with various tasks. Some of them are important and must be completed as soon as possible, while others can wait a while. It is important that we are able to distinguish between them and plan their implementation so that they do not interfere with additional projects that may arise in the meantime. With such planning, we will be able to complete all tasks within the specified timeframe without any complications.

2. Eliminate distractions

Nothing makes it more difficult to complete tasks than distractions that constantly pull us away from our work. This makes it hard to concentrate on a given task, and therefore impossible to complete it accurately. It’s worth establishing good habits in your life, such as making a list of tasks to do and their deadlines, or at least turning off notifications on your phone that can distract you from your duties.

3. Surround yourself with people who motivate you

Valuable relationships with other people who can motivate us and allow us to believe in ourselves are very important. Support from loved ones is an important element that makes it easier to cope with problems. Relationships with co-workers are also very important and can make it easier for us to achieve our goals.

4. Don’t compare yourself to others

Comparing yourself to others can negatively affect your attitude and demotivate you to work. Don’t think about whether someone is more efficient, completes the same tasks faster, or is more appreciated for their work. The most important thing is to develop at your own pace and be inspired by such people. Such an attitude is likely to help you achieve your goals and teach you to learn from the experiences of others.

Summary

It’s worth remembering that we have a certain amount of time and energy to devote to certain tasks. Make sure that you don’t spend too much of it on unimportant ones. Also, monitor whether your perfectionism is at the right level and lets you follow instructions accurately and efficiently.

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