Struggling with perfectionism and deadlines?

As rightly suggested, adopting a growth mindset moves the focus from the results to progress, and it's the best long-term option for a fundamental paradigm change. Another short-term approach would be to reframe a "perfect" job as a job done before the deadline, at least for the next period. The third "reframing" would be for "perfection" to be seen as the most time-efficient workable solution. I suggest that the coachee experiments with both of the above reframings and then blends them into a growth mindset.

Perfectionism is a delaying tactic that people often deploy stopping them from taking action. Perfectionism is a closed mindset, because if perfect was achievable that closes off the idea that things can be improved up on, or evolve with new ideas. As long as you adopt a mindset of 'good enough', 'I've done my best', than that will get you further ahead than stalling until you feel things are perfect.

Replace perfectionism with the pareto principle. Do 80% of the work with 20% of effort. Don't sweat the remaining 20% that is not done, incomplete or that is imperfect. If you really need to, outsource the remainder to others to handle. If not, just be happy with achieving 80% or even more, just not perfection

Perfectionism can be a real productivity killer, especially when deadlines are looming. It's that nagging voice telling you everything needs to be flawless before you can call it done. But here's the thing - perfect is often the enemy of good enough. Recognizing when you're falling into the perfectionism trap is key. Are you endlessly tweaking minor details? Putting off finishing because it doesn't feel 'just right'? That's perfectionism talking. Remember, most tasks don't require absolute perfection, and sometimes done is better than perfect.

Progress over perfection is a useful way to look at goal setting. If you’re battling perfectionism and deadlines, try breaking your tasks into smaller chunks and give yourself some wiggle room. Base your deadlines on how long things have actually taken you before, not how long you wish they’d take. Prioritise what really needs to get done, and remember, done is better than perfect!

It's all about finding that sweet spot between ambition and what's actually doable. Start by breaking big tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. Be honest with yourself about how long things really take - we often underestimate. Prioritize what's truly important and let go of the nice-to-haves. Remember, done is better than perfect. Try setting time limits for tasks to avoid endless tweaking, cut yourself some slack - nobody's perfect, and that's totally okay, by setting achievable goals, you'll hit more deadlines and feel a whole lot better about your work.

I sometimes use the analogy that you wouldn't expect to win a Grand Prix in a town car. You can pimp the town car to increase it's chances of doing better in a Grand Prix, just as someone can increase their chances in life by upgrading their mindset, personal development, and health. Set yourself up to win, even if those wins are small. Get better and better until you are the person who can achieve the bigger goal.

To manage this, start by setting realistic goals and deadlines, focusing on progress rather than perfection. For instance, I once worked with a client who struggled with perfectionism, causing them to miss deadlines. We shifted their focus to completing tasks with a high standard but without striving for unattainable perfection. By breaking projects into smaller, actionable steps and setting incremental deadlines, they were able to make steady progress and meet deadlines without being overwhelmed by the pursuit of perfection. This approach not only improved their efficiency but also reduced stress, leading to more consistent and successful outcomes.

I saw a quote that resonated with me, "not perfect, excellent." A mind-shift for reaching goals is allowing yourself to include imperfect milestones. Chances are, your excellent or good enough is often better than another's perfect. Many people, myself included, put goals, milestones, and "finished" on a pedestal. Becoming comfortable with "good enough" on a few milestones moves the entire project and goal towards excellence. Many projects need to be vetted with clients, staff, and prospects, and they will likely need changes down the road anyway. Input and analysis also get the project and goal closer to perfection and always make it excellent.

Every task seems "as important" at your first glimpse at it. To make sure you create a list, ask yourself the following question. Which tasks will do the most significant harm sooner than others if not done or done incorrectly? Then remember, perfection is the biggest enemy of "excellent outcomes." Instead of doing every task to perfection, there could be a "V.1" (yes! like in computer software) that the team could improve in a "V.2" later. And most important, learn in the process. What your team perceives as "perfect" today, might be unnecessary or even mediocre tomorrow.

To manage perfectionism and meet deadlines, leaders should prioritize tasks strategically rather than striving for flawlessness. Leadership is about making smart decisions that drive impact. Focus on high-impact tasks, break complex projects into manageable steps, and regularly review priorities. Aim for excellence, not perfection, to maintain productivity and quality. Resilience, built through overcoming obstacles, strengthens leadership by aligning actions with core values, helping leaders navigate challenges with confidence and purpose.

Here's what I do: zero in on the essentials that need my full attention. Is it the concept, the presentation, or maybe the execution? Those are my headline acts.

Prioritization has become one of my most valuable tools in managing both perfectionism and deadlines. I’ve developed a system that categorizes tasks by intensity—high, medium, and low—and by their timeline—whether they need to be addressed right now, in the near future, or sometime further down the road. This framework has given me clarity on what needs my immediate attention and what can be planned or delegated. This doesn’t mean I overlook the smaller details, but I’ve come to understand that not every task demands the same level of intensity. Some things can be handled with less scrutiny or passed on to others who are well-equipped to manage them.

Prioritization is critical when juggling perfectionism and deadlines. During my teaching career, I prided myself on never missing a deadline, but I realized that striving for perfection in every detail wasn’t sustainable. Instead, I learned to determine which tasks were most important and focused on those first. This didn’t mean ignoring the smaller details, but rather understanding that not every aspect needed the same level of scrutiny. By concentrating on what would have the greatest impact, I was able to maintain high-quality work while meeting deadlines consistently.

The basis of a growth vs fixed mindset really stems down to whether you believe change is possible. A true perfectionist would understand the need for failure and feedback, because that's the only way to actually improve.

Adopting a growth mindset is essential in overcoming the challenges of perfectionism. In my teaching career, I often encouraged my students to embrace this mindset. Many of them struggled with the fear of making mistakes, believing that perfection was the only acceptable standard. I worked with them to view mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow rather than as failures. By reinforcing the idea that progress and effort were more important than perfection, I saw them become more resilient and open to challenges. This approach not only helped them in their academic journey but also showed me the power of focusing on growth over perfection.

When you reframe things it is easier to comprehend, but the idea that you have a fixed mindset is easily debunked. If you were to have a fixed mindset you would have the same mind as you arrived into this world with, as a baby; are you still an infant who cannot fend for themselves? Our mind grows and changes as we grow and change, moving through the different chapters of our lives. We learn and grow from our previous actions throughout life.

Com essa mentalidade de crescimento, o perfeccionista passa a ver desafios e falhas como oportunidades de aprendizado, em vez de sinais de fracasso. Isso ajuda a reduzir a rigidez e a autocrítica, permitindo uma abordagem mais flexível e resiliente ao lidar com obstáculos. A mentalidade de crescimento incentiva a busca contínua por melhoria, sem a press?o de ser perfeito, promovendo um equilíbrio saudável entre esfor?o e realiza??o. Essa atitude abre portas para inova??o, adaptabilidade e um desenvolvimento mais sustentável ao longo da carreira.

It can be easy to get caught up in perfection, but one thing I've learnt is, perfection doesn't actually exist and it's really about making progress, otherwise aiming for perfection will end up holding you back. It's about making informed information based on what you have available, as well as identifying opportunities for growth. Instead of seeing deadlines as a pressure, view it as an opportunity to prioritise and to learn how to execute things within that timeframe to a level or expectation that is pre-determined to be appropriate for the task you're executing.

In addition to planning time blocks for specific tasks, it’s helpful to regularly review your progress. Taking a moment to assess whether you’re on track to meet your goals, allows you to adjust your approach and redistribute time if needed. This type of continuous review, helps avoid last-minute surprises and keeps a balance between quality and meeting deadlines. Another important aspect is energy management because not all hours of the day, are equal in terms of productivity. Identify your peak energy times and reserve those periods for tasks that require the most focus. This, will optimize your time and could reduce the mental fatigue that often comes with perfectionism.

Uma vez, ajudei um amigo perfeccionista come?ando com tarefas simples que priorizavam prazos sobre qualidade. Aos poucos, avan?amos e valorizamos cada etapa. Após seis meses, a evolu??o foi consistente e amplamente reconhecida.

A gest?o do tempo ajuda a evitar a armadilha de gastar tempo excessivo em detalhes insignificantes e a procrastina??o associada ao medo de n?o atingir a perfei??o. Ao gerenciar bem o tempo, é possível priorizar as tarefas mais importantes, cumprir prazos e reduzir o estresse. Uma boa gest?o do tempo permite que o perfeccionista mantenha um equilíbrio saudável entre trabalho e vida pessoal, aumentando a satisfa??o e o bem-estar geral.

Perfektionismus und enge Termine k?nnen stressig sein, aber effektives Zeitmanagement hilft. Beginnen Sie mit einer Priorit?tenliste und konzentrieren Sie sich auf die wichtigsten Aufgaben. Setzen Sie realistische Ziele und teilen Sie gro?e Projekte in kleinere, überschaubare Schritte auf. Nutzen Sie Techniken wie die Pomodoro-Methode, um produktive Arbeitsphasen mit kurzen Pausen abzuwechseln. Es ist auch wichtig, Pufferzeiten einzuplanen und sich nicht zu überladen. So bleibt Raum für Flexibilit?t und unerwartete Aufgaben.

I too agree with Kamakshi: When you prioritize tasks that align with your long-term goals, doesn’t it lead to greater productivity and satisfaction? Imagine how freeing it will feel to manage your time effectively, knowing that every moment counts towards your growth and success."

One of the most valuable resources I’ve leaned on over the years has been my coach and my trusted tribe. These are the people I turn to when I need to gut-check my thinking and ensure that I’m not so wrapped up in the details that I lose sight of the bigger picture. Their insights and perspectives have been instrumental in helping me step back and truly understand what’s driving my stressors. Having this support system has allowed me to see beyond the immediate pressures of perfectionism and to focus on the overall purpose and objectives of my work. They help me maintain a balance, reminding me that while attention to detail is important, it’s equally crucial to keep the broader goals in mind.

To help clients manage perfectionism and meet deadlines, executive coaching focuses on shifting the mindset from perfection to progress. Encourage setting realistic goals, breaking tasks into manageable parts, and prioritizing what’s most important. Accountability systems, like regular check-ins, can keep them on track. Most importantly, embracing the idea that “good enough” can still lead to success helps clients let go of the pressure to be flawless and focus on moving forward.

You can share your work early and often with colleagues or mentors to get feedback before you’ve invested too much time. This can help you adjust course without the pressure of making everything perfect on your own. Additionally, you can involve others in your process to reduce the burden of perfectionism. Having other people's input often leads to better results and eases the pressure on one individual.

People tell themselves that they have to show to the world how strong they are, and that they can do everything on their own - that they're good enough, just as they are. The reality is that quite often people are struggling on the inside fearing that if they ask for help, or seek support it will make them seem weak. Asking for help and support is actually a smart move and a sign of strength, when we get help we often get a lot more done, and we learn and develop in the process. Nobody has to struggle by themselves.

Na minha experiência, o primeiro passo é reconhecer o problema, o que exige vulnerabilidade e um ambiente de seguran?a psicológica. Com isso, o colaborador aceita a necessidade de melhoria e busca ajuda. Mentores e coaches podem fornecer técnicas e a??es eficazes para mitigar o perfeccionismo exacerbado.