Do you find yourself agonizing over every little detail? Does it take you three times as long to finish a task because you are trying to get it “just right?” If so, you might be a perfectionist? It’s not an uncommon personality trait to see in the business world and it can help to push individuals to strive to do their best. In extreme cases, though, it leads to wasted time and resources. The outcome usually doesn’t justify the immense effort that went into it. If you find yourself in the web of extreme perfectionism, here are a few tips that can lead you out.
Make a Decision and Stick to it
Believe in the decisions you make! One trap of perfectionism is to second-guess yourself, which is often a never-ending spiral. So when you make a decision, have confidence in yourself and stick to it.
Trus t your Employees
Listen to the input from your employees after you have unveiled your plan. They are great resources and will let you know what is possible. If they like the plan then it’s probably worth using. Their support will help prevent you from sliding into the second-guessing game that I previously talked about. Another way to prevent wasted time is not to micromanage your workforce. When you have assigned tasks, take a step back and let them manage those tasks. You hired them for their experience in the first place, right? And before you execute your plan …
Have a Plan B
Sometimes things go wrong, so develop a backup plan. This will keep you more flexible mentally and keep you from being held to the constraints of your first plan. The more flexible you are, the more you will be able to handle the “non-perfect” things that happen throughout your plan and your day.
Perfectionism could have a beneficial effect as it may make you strive to be your best, but that pressure can lead to stress and wasted time. Try to stay flexible and strive for your personal best. If you find yourself caught up in perfectionism, the steps I’ve outlined above should help. You can also read this article to learn how to avoid perfectionism pitfalls all together.