Perfectionism - The Biggest Myth of Leadership

Do you need to be Perfect to be a great Leader?  Definitely Not! When it comes to leadership there is no one size fits all. Every leader has their own personality, way of approaching problems and leading teams . Whether we are managing a team of 8 or a 100 plus people or just a family of 4, or being by ourselves, we try to put our best, be influential and become a person whom people would like to follow. Personally, I have been hard on myself at times when it comes to evaluating self where perfection has been used as a measurement. We at times believe that to be a SUCCESSFUL leader, we need to be PERFECT.

It is important to reset our mindset at times and make a conscious effort to be self aware about these myths, that I would like to share:

1. As a leader you need to know Everything: It is a common myth that as a leader you need to have all the answers. If you think you have all the answers, you are not learning. If you are the one who is never delegating or creating a path or asking for advice or shying away from stating that you do not know something, you are crippling the creativity of your team. When you are seeking advice , you are connecting with your team members and building those strong relationships. Please remember success is a team sport and it takes a diversified team to make that happen. 
2. As a leader you cannot Fail: Failure is one of the greatest fears of humanity. Over the years, if you have ever embraced failures and reflected back, it definitely must have turned you into a much more resilient individual. Many people talk about failures as experiences. In my opinion, failures create opportunities and provide us a platform to be more creative and intelligent. My favorite quote:  “If you fail, never give up because F.A.I.L. means "first Attempt In Learning"; End is not the end, in fact E.N.D. means "Effort Never Dies"; If you get No as an answer, remember N.O. means "Next Opportunity" - late Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam
3. As a leader you always need to be prepared in case anything may not go right: You need to be visionary but also live in the present. Present is where you can exercise your full energy and prepare yourself for the future. The uncertainties of the future keep you focused and continues to challenge yourself and your teams. Living in the present helps you engage with your employees in a timely manner when it comes to appreciation or constructive feedback.
4. As a leader, you need to lead everything:   It is an unrealistic expectation if you are being asked or you believe that you need to lead everything. Micromanaging is one of the biggest mistakes that leaders make since they cross their boundaries. Rather than helping their teams, they create a lack of trust, create anxiety and sometimes even annoyance.
5. As a leader you always need to be Perfect: “Perfectionism is the enemy of progress” - Winston Churchill. In light of trying to be perfect, leaders have missed market opportunities and key deliverables for their organizations. General George S. Patton said it best: “A good plan violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow.” The pursuit of perfection is one of the great opponents of performance, execution and delivery. By giving up Perfection, you end up creating a safe space for others to thrive and innovate with high energy and enthusiasm.

Let us continue to focus on Progress and not on Perfection