It’s got to beeeeeee Perfect – Has it?

Perfectionism – Is it robbing you of making a difference in the world?

As an influential Sustainability Leader, you are more than aware of the urgent need for meaningful action on the greatest challenge of our time - the climate crisis. With your expertise, passion and drive, you have the potential to be a powerful force for change. And you are, to a point…

But there's a nagging voice inside your head that's holding you back, and it could be costing you - dearly.

You spend a significant amount of time agonising about what practical steps to offer to your clients to move them towards their sustainability goals. Paralyzed by the thinking that only the big commitments and acts are the right decisions, given the state of everything at this 11th hour for humanity. Your ambition is admirable however, your clients are trying to grapple with competing demands and risks in a world where systemic change is overdue. This can mean your recommendations feel idealistic to them and it risks you looking out of touch with their reality.

This relentless pursuit of perfection also shows up at home too. Striving to live sustainably often means going against the grain of society which you’re children are really struggling with as they start secondary school. You want to cut down on the amount of clothes your children want to buy, whereas they are desperate not to be dressed in ‘uncool’ clothes.

You find yourself agonizing over every decision, from which client recommendation will lead to significantly lower emissions this quarter to how can I get my kids to be content with no presents this Christmas, You're constantly searching for what feels like the one ‘right way’.

That kind of paralysis is taking a toll on all aspects of your life. You find yourself stuck in a vicious cycle of analysis and inaction. You're exhausting yourself in pursuit of an unattainable ideal. Because here's the truth, There is no one ‘right way’. It doesn't exist, and your relentless quest for it is actively holding you back from the profound impact you're capable of making.

So, what can you do practically to address this?

1.????? Instead of aiming for flawless, start celebrating progress.

Every little bit of it. Maybe suggest to your kids that they have fewer presents this Christmas or ask yourself which client recommendation might create some early progress towards their emissions targets.

2.????? Share that progress with your clients and colleagues.

This will give you feedback and support.

3.????? Experiment, iterate, and be willing to course-correct along the way.

Consider who, in your network does this well.

4.????? Look back over the long term.

This will help you to see the impact you are making by acknowledging how each of those incremental steps has built up over time. We tend to overestimate what we can do in the short term but underestimate when considering the long term.

Once you let go of perfection, you’ll likely unlock a new level of creativity, confidence, and forward momentum which will free up that paralysed feeling of ‘stuckness’. Your clients and colleagues will appreciate your agility, honesty, and your willingness to go on the journey with them.

After all, the climate crisis demands action, not paralysis. As an influential Sustainability Leader, you have the potential to drive profound change - but to do this you need to silence your inner critic that demands those big grand actions and focus on small steps every day.

Progress, not perfection, is the path forward.

If the themes of this article have struck a chord with you and you’d like to explore how you can implement these suggestions, why not book a free, no obligation, confidential 30-minute conversation with me? The link is here.