Office perfectionism, particularly at startups, walks a effective line between precious asset and harmful legal responsibility. Whereas it could actually propel steady achievement and distinctive outcomes, unchecked perfectionism typically creates a corrosive surroundings—one the place resentment and distrust thrive, finally capping each particular person and organizational potential.
If you end up making unrealistic calls for of your self and your colleagues, you might have to rethink your perfectionistic tendencies.
To dig into the psychology of perfectionism, we’ve to ask three questions: How do perfectionists suppose? How do they really feel? And the way do they act towards others?
First, let’s start with how they suppose.
Extreme requirements
With their hyperactive minds, perfectionists see themselves as thorough. They suppose in extremes, all the time buying new info, and keep alert to something that goes unsuitable. Preoccupied with making the suitable alternative, they’re all the time searching for imperfections and trying to find the precise proper alternative.
Interior rule guide
Inflexible pondering and the necessity for order create a psychological neatness of their minds. Their inside rule guide guides their pondering, and their lists of lists maintain them on observe. Additionally they have an overgrown sense of accountability and obligation and hate making errors.
Procrastination
Cautious and contemplative, they admittedly suppose an excessive amount of, dwell on issues that is probably not related, all the time trying to find the suitable solutions. Their want to seek out the proper reply exacerbates procrastination, creates indecisiveness, and undermines their spontaneity.
Weak self-image
Perfectionists measure their self-worth on how good they’re and the way they carry out. Their unrelenting potential to research and choose, together with their self-criticism, envisions the worst doable outcomes. They amplify small gaffes out of proportion, main them to imagine they aren’t as competent as they need to be.
Now, let’s think about what perfectionists typically really feel.
Stress to supply
There’s an inside stress to supply on a regular basis. Perfectionists are particularly delicate to being pressured by others and delicate to their calls for, actual or imagined. Their angst about all-or-nothing pondering and their nervousness about efficiency typically results in burnout.
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Persistent worrier
Perfectionists hardly ever benefit from the second, as they fear typically about what individuals are excited about them. These emotions of insecurity create excessive stress and nervousness and make it troublesome for them to loosen up. They worry having individuals see their flaws and being came upon.
Continually vital
Emotionally, their minds lean towards the unfavorable and their vital perspective simply frustrates them. They hardly ever take pleasure in their wonderful work, get indignant with themselves when it’s not excellent, and may get unhappy and demoralized. Their vital perspective will also be projected outward by being defensive and making it troublesome to forgive others.
Worry of vulnerability
Many fears sit beneath the floor of their ultracompetent demeanor. Guarded and unable to indicate emotions, they’re typically terrified of dropping management, terrified of trusting themselves and others, and being dependent.
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And eventually, how do perfectionists act?
Workaholic
Perfectionists are pushed, typically on the expense of their well being and well-being. As they ruminate about work, they will miss deadlines and alternatives. They typically commit each working hour to doing or excited about work; consequently, they will shortchange their youngsters, ignore their companions, or overlook about pals. Extreme workaholism can finally result in fatigue and diminished productiveness.
Fixed enchancment
A need to be the most effective and an obsessive dedication to self-improvement calls for excellent options. By measuring oneself continually, perfectionists enhance and polish every bit of labor to keep away from errors and obtain the adulation for which they yearn and really feel they deserve.
Cussed and oppositional
Perfectionists love to do issues their approach. It’s not uncommon for a perfectionist to behave like a saint or to be a choosy prima donna who imposes harsh judgments on spouses, pals, and work colleagues. Micromanagement is usually their most popular type of management.
Intense satisfaction
Regardless of many of those difficult qualities, perfectionists take nice satisfaction of their work. They see themselves working the toughest, demanding the most effective, and delivering exemplary work. And that is all true, till it’s not.
Now that you just perceive the psychology behind perfectionism, you possibly can higher establish these patterns in your self and your workforce members.
In case you are a perfectionist, be versatile along with your requirements. Set objectives which might be particular, measurable, achievable, life like, and well timed. For managers, recognizing perfectionist tendencies early may help stop burnout and keep workforce momentum. Contemplate creating environments the place “ok” is widely known alongside excellence. Set up clear boundaries round scope and high quality necessities so perfectionists know when to cease refining.
To attenuate perfectionism’s impression on teamwork, apply constructive impatience. The constructive aspect goals to create a psychologically secure surroundings for these round you—the place individuals be ok with themselves, really feel empowered to take dangers, and are open to new methods of doing issues. In the meantime, the impatient aspect pushes for seen, fast outcomes. This balanced strategy means you:
- Create a wholesome, secure surroundings for individuals whereas specializing in outcomes.
- Contain individuals in choices whereas nudging them out of their consolation zones.
- Set increased objectives whereas serving to individuals discover which means of their work.
Keep in mind that perfectionism exists on a spectrum—the purpose isn’t to remove excessive requirements however to channel them productively. Startups that efficiently handle perfectionist tendencies can profit from distinctive high quality whereas sustaining workflow effectivity, psychological security, and sustainable efficiency over time.
Excerpted from Detach: Ditch Your Baggage to Stay A Extra Fulfilling Life copyright © 2025 by Bob Rosen. Reprinted with permission from Matt Holt Books, an imprint of BenBella Books, Inc. All rights reserved.
