Hacks for Overcoming Perfectionism at Work

Are you often overwhelmed or paralyzed by a constant fear of failure? Fear can mask itself as perfectionism, anger, or obsession. Fear deprives us of opportunity and paralyzes our personal and professional quests.

Atelophobia is categorized as an intense fear of failure that causes one to delay or avoid situations that can lead to an unsuccessful outcome (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.). According to the Cleveland Clinic (n.d.), extreme perfectionism can escalate into atelophobia as a constant fear of failure drives perfectionistic tendencies.

Perfectionism: A Blessing to Some, a Curse to Others

As we seek to advance in our pursuit of success, we can be burdened or inspired by perfectionism. On the one hand, working toward perfection can inspire us to break through limitations by setting higher standards regarding our goals. This type of perfectionism can motivate us to work harder to achieve our goals.

Conversely, professional perfectionism can trap us in a cycle of overexertion, leading to exhaustion and burnout.

A Breakdown of How Perfectionism Can Hinder Your Work Performance

• Experiencing failure at work can negatively impact one’s well-being.
  • Professional perfectionism causes us to chase unattainable standards. When we become so focused on achieving perfection, we forget to acknowledge our day-to-day progress toward achieving our goals.
  • In some cases, a perfectionist’s fear of failure can become so intense that they set increasingly high work expectations to avoid future disappointment. If this cycle goes unchecked, it can result in low self-worth, anxiety, and feelings of dismay. This decreases our work motivation, removing our professional satisfaction and leaving us feeling inadequate and doubtful of our capabilities.
• Perfectionism can lead to obsession and an unhealthy work-life balance.
  • Time is our most valuable resource, as we can’t acquire more. Some of us go our entire lives, allowing perfectionism to push us toward chasing money, status, and titles, often leading us astray when finding a sense of purpose.
  • Pursuing professional perfection requires a strong dedication and a willingness to devote ample time and energy to one’s job. Perfectionists feel they can control professional outcomes by putting more time into their work. This commitment can offset a healthy work-life balance, ultimately resulting in burnout.
• Professional perfectionism often results in procrastination.
  • It is common for perfectionists to continuously delay submitting their work as they are stuck in the mentality that “there is always room for improvement.” These individuals push off important deadlines because they are never satisfied with their results.
  • When we struggle to manage our time effectively, we constantly feel behind or rushed, leaving us dissatisfied and anxious. As a result, we hinder our professional growth and development, pushing ourselves into a vicious cycle of internal resentment.

How to Manage Your Perfectionism in the Workplace

Professional perfectionism can make it merely impossible for individuals to make strides toward advancing their careers. Whether you are a new graduate or have been working in your field for years, it is essential to establish healthy professional expectations.

Here are some strategies to set manageable standards in the workplace:

1. We achieve professional satisfaction by transforming past obstacles into future opportunities that can lead to growth.

Happiness is not derived from an all-or-nothing perspective. In the face of perfectionism fueled by a fear of failure, it can be challenging to maintain a level of optimism. The growth mindset is a psychological principle developed by Carol Dweck (2006). It suggests that people who view mishaps as an opportunity to make self-improvements are more likely to achieve their goals (Dweck, 2006).

You can start embracing a growth mindset by shifting how you speak about your failures and accepting the discomfort of failure. By evaluating your failures, you can develop new strategies and learn how to approach future situations differently. We can better understand our abilities, strengths, and limitations when we create the space and time to learn from our failures.

2. To adopt a growth mindset, embrace ambiguity, and free yourself from limiting beliefs.

We strive for perfectionism in our work to be viewed as the best in our fields. Throughout this journey toward perfectionism, we often overlook how our jobs may not reflect our strengths and passions. We desperately cling to this idea that if we keep putting excessive time and energy into our work, we will feel satisfied.

To experience personal and professional growth, you must push yourself outside your comfort zone. When we break free from our self-imposed belief system, we view the world through opportunity and creativity. This can lead us to explore professional opportunities we did not know were within our reach.

3. Lead with progress instead of finalization.

Focus on the process instead of the outcome. Rather than focusing on the final result, concentrate on the steps you took to achieve the outcome.

Try using this simple technique, IER (intention, execution, reflection), to help build motivation toward achieving your goals.

• Step 1: Set Intentions. Record your intentions for the day at the start of each morning. These intentions can be habits, tasks, or a specific mindset you want to adopt throughout the day.
• Step 2: Execution. Create opportunities by structuring your life around habits that will set you up for success.
  • The execution phase would be your action phase. Consider which habits and behaviors will help you progress toward your intentions and goals.
  • While pushing yourself beyond your limits is important, I recommend setting reasonable goals within your reach. Establishing small, measurable goals can help build momentum toward achieving larger goals.
• Step 3: Reflection. At the end of each day, set aside time to reflect on the progress made toward your habits and intentions. This step aims to help you develop optimal strategies to become more efficient and present in your life. This can also act as an opportunity to assess how you manage setbacks or conflicts daily (something we don’t always make time to think about at the end of each day).
  • Here are a few reflection prompts to consider:
    • What did I accomplish today?
    • What challenges did I face today? What has this misstep taught me about myself?
    • Can I change anything in the future to reach a different outcome?
    • How has my mindset influenced my behaviours?

4. Set standards based on your personal and professional values.

There is no set pathway to success. Professional success is subjective—while some measure professional success by a title or salary, others measure it by the time and effort they dedicate to their work. Your idea of professional success is determined by your values and priorities.

Your professional and personal decisions—e.g., how late you stay at work, the time and energy you put into your job, and the sacrifices you want to make for your career—will ultimately dictate your lifestyle. You must reflect on your work demands and priorities to create a work-life that aligns with your values.