Perfectionism Is the Enemy of Productivity

Every client I work with sooner or later wants to discuss how to be more productive. They want to get more done and feel that either they aren’t productive enough or somehow waste time even though they can’t figure out where. It’s usually packaged as wanting to discuss time management techniques, since they believe if they managed their time more effectively they would be more productive.

Often however it’s not about time management, it’s about perfectionism which gets in the way of being productive. As a recovering perfectionist myself I understand the challenge of having way too much to do and wanting to do everything perfectly. Perfectionism will get in the way of productivity, and often reduces the enjoyment of the activity you are doing.

How does perfectionism get in the way of productivity?

1. Everything has the same priority level.  

For perfectionists everything seems and is important. Even the simplest tasks or the smallest decisions hold the same level of importance as a major decision or to do. Why? Because perfectionists are control freaks. Imperfections that others don’t notice drive the perfectionist crazy.  When this is your modus operandi you probably don’t even recognize it…of course it’s normal to you to pay attention to everything and every detail.

2. You don’t delegate.

If everything has the same priority level, and every decision is critical you won’t delegate. How can you delegate when you are certain that it won’t be handled to your satisfaction? 

3. Accepting help is out of the question.

You can’t accept help, even when offered. Perfectionists believe they can do it faster/better than others. And even convince themselves they are doing others a favor by saying no to offers to help. Why burden someone else when you can do it yourself.

4. You make assumptions about what others want. 

Instead of asking others what’s important to them, you have a belief that you know what they want, maybe know even better than they know themselves. This leads to the next point, you over deliver.

5. Over delivering is second nature.

Because you don’t ask what others want, and your inner critic says you probably will never do enough to satisfy others you consistently over deliver. You do more than is necessary and more than others care about.

6. Redos are common. 

Perfectionists check, double check, triple check and redo more than others. Perhaps not on everything but on most things and this means time is taken away from other projects and tasks. It’s no wonder perfectionists feel like they are always behind and their list never seems to get shorter.

7. Frustration is high when everything isn’t well done.

When everything isn’t done well, better than well even frustration is high. This leads to stress, anxiety, overwhelm and more…none of it good for your body, mind or spirit. When considering starting something new (a new habit or project) perfectionist struggle. They want to ensure they can be 100% successful and hit the goal so they often procrastinate or only take things on they are confident about. More often than not they take on more than is humanly possible, and then when they don’t reach their unrealistic goals they become frustrated with themselves.

Here are a few examples of where perfectionism shows up, and interferes with productivity.

• When I was recruiting I had my admin type up every reference check we did on candidates and send them to the employer. One day I realized she was spending upwards of 15 hours a week doing this. I called every client and asked them if they cared about us sending them the references. Everyone said no, that as long as I had them if they needed them for their files they didn’t care. 

— I was making assumptions without asking what others wanted causing us to spend time on an activity that no one cared about.

— I was clearly over delivering.

• A client of mine is a classic overachiever. When working on a project for one of her clients she managed to get an interest rate with a bank they had indicated was impossible. But she kept pushing. In the end while she achieved what everyone said was impossible, she wasn’t satisfied as she wanted something even better.

— Frustration was high since it wasn’t up to her standards.

— Over delivering – time was spent trying to achieve the impossible.

• A partner in a law firm doesn’t delegate. He believes he’ll end up redoing it anyhow so he might as well do it himself. Yet he’s always overwhelmed and frustrated, which turns into conversations with others about his dissatisfaction with them. They walk away upset, the managing partner spends time dealing with it and productivity is reduced for the partner, the attorney and the managing partner.

— Doesn’t delegate

— Frustration high

— Won’t accept help

— Redos are common

• I’ve been a knitter for decades. Being a perfectionist meant that if when knitting I saw a mistake I ripped out whatever I had completed. It could be the entire back of a sweater, redoing most of a hat or anything else. One day I was reading a book about knitting and how a mistake indicates that it was hand-made rather than machine made. And before ripping out to consider if the mistake affected the integrity of the garment..was there going to be a big hole for instance that would cause it to unravel. If not then leave it. It has changed my view completely and now not only do I get more garments made, I enjoy the process a whole lot more.

Perfectionism shouldn’t be the goal. It takes more time to be a perfectionist than to be flexible and thoughtful about what you are doing. There are some tasks that require a critical eye and attention to detail such as reading a contract. Missing a key point can be disastrous. But there are many things, perhaps most that if not handled perfectly won’t have catastrophic results. 

What’s the solution? Slow down and ask yourself questions. Am I making an assumption that I can verify is correct, or not? What is the impact if it’s not done 100% to my liking…will something happen that is harmful, injurious or will have a devastating result? If I continue not to accept help or delegate is it possible for me to ever get off the wheel I’m on? And more…

You can’t be more productive until you let go of some of the perfectionist habits and thinking you have. That’s a fact, not an assumption.

The first step towards becoming more productive might be to delegate more. Find out what type of delegator you are and how it affects your productivity. Take our delegation quiz by clicking the link below.

Linda Finkle

Executives and top performers in leading companies rely on Executive Coach Linda Finkle to call them on their blind spots, expand their influence and create bigger things for themselves and the companies they lead. High-achieving professionals from Ameriprise, Mass Mutual, Blue Cross Blue Shield, major law firms and dozens of others have come to know Linda as their secret weapon to overcome leadership and communication challenges that stand in their way of making an even bigger impact.

Linda is described as ‘the best of both worlds in that she understands revenue pipeline management as well as running an organization day-to-day’ and ‘an invaluable resource and advisor’ by others. No matter how they describe her, clients regularly welcome the benefits that come from their work together. Most notably, clients’ gross revenues skyrocketed, communication skills have been refined creating a lasting ripple effect across the organization, allowing them to make bigger impacts at work and in their personal lives, and learn smarter ways of adding value without burning out.

Known for her great rapport and relationship-focused demeanor, she is often called direct and has a truth-telling way about her. Linda Finkle has coached and trained more than 2,000 leaders in six countries since 2001. Widely known as “The Elephant Chaser”, Linda has a reputation for going straight for the throat of whatever problems a business is having and working closely with leaders and managers to resolve them and to heighten the company’s overall performance. Whether working one-on-one with clients, as an inspiring speaker, as a leadership team facilitator, or with partnerships in distress, Linda is committed to guiding clients to clarity about their communications, behaviors and stumbling blocks that stand in the way of their effectiveness.

Before launching Incedo Group, LLC, Linda built and managed an executive recruiting firm for more than twenty years. Her recruitment agency identified talent for Fortune 500 companies and small to mid-sized business as well, and ranked among the top 10 recruiting firms in the country. Her ability to understand the corporate culture and needs of the company for both the long and short term ensured her clients returned time and again. Even today, clients and candidates from her recruiting days reach out to her for advice, help, and guidance.

Her ability to build trust immediately, her powers of perception and intuition, along with her tactful and direct style, create a space that allows clients to share their truth and receive the feedback they won’t hear from anyone else. It is exactly what they need to make changes to catapult their leadership and companies in powerful ways.