The Perfectionism Trap (and How to Escape It)

You know that voice that whispers, "It's not quite ready yet..." while you're endlessly polishing something that was probably good enough three drafts ago?

Here's one of the most important lessons I've learned as an entrepreneur:

Choose imperfect progress over perfection.

It's soooo tempting to overwork things as I build a business I love. I want every aspect of the service experience to empower, embolden, and inspire my clients. I have a high bar for what that looks like, but if I'm not careful, the pursuit of perfection will undermine my success. Perfection can take my eye off the bigger picture of what I'm creating, slow me down, and make me afraid to experiment and try new things.

An interesting benefit of experiencing the lure of perfectionism myself is that I can spot it in others. I see when it rears its head with my clients when they are holding too tight to "getting things right" rather than just trying something, seeing how it goes, and learning from it. Of course, there is a balance of both approaches to strike, but more often people are biased toward the perfect side.

Some things that help:

• Work on shifting your mindset from "failure is not an option" to "failure is a part of learning and growth." When you learn to expect failure and see it as something to embrace rather than avoid, it loses its power.
• Celebrate small victories and progress rather than just the final outcome. Ask a colleague, your boss, or a friend to help you remember to do this. (I do this with my clients!)
• Limit your time on tasks. I love to set timers and tell myself, "You have 15 minutes to create this LinkedIn post. Wherever it is at that point is good enough." This helps avoid over-polishing work, a common trap for us perfectionists.
• Ask yourself regularly, "Is this good enough for the requirements?" Get feedback to help recalibrate your overly critical judgments if you aren't sure.

Lastly, don't beat yourself up about it. Perfectionism is simply a part of your psyche that is trying to look out for you. It simply has a skewed perspective of what you need to succeed. It doesn't realize that progress will help you get further.

What's one small, imperfect action you could take today that would move you forward? Reply and let me know—I'd love to celebrate your brave step with you.

If you could use some help managing this part of your inner narrative, let's talk. I have three coaching spots opening up next month for professionals ready to trade perfectionism for powerful progress.

Audrey Wessman, a Product Strategy, Next Generation Navigation leader at Cigna

This is interview #3 in a collection of short interviews with sharp, impactful leaders I know and respect—because the business world needs more refreshing people like them.

?? Meet Audrey Wessman . I worked with her while designing the post-training experience for graduates of a design thinking program offered to Cigna employees. I liked her immediately for her warmth and people-centered leadership style. She asked good questions that got my team to examine our proposed solutions in a new light. She was up for experiments. And she trusted us to take the work forward. What’s not to love about a leader like that? I’m excited to share her thinking on leadership with you below.

WHAT’S HELPED YOU TO BE A MORE EFFECTIVE LEADER?

Watching other leaders. I search out leadership everywhere and at every age. Mari Copley, and her crusade for clean drinking water in Flint, Michigan, is a wonderful example of how leaders come in all shapes and sizes. I add to my leadership style as I witness how others approach challenges. Each morning I ask myself, “How might I inspire others to be their best today?”.

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN ABOUT LEADERSHIP?

It’s so funny, but when I was first promoted to a leadership position at work, I thought I’d be telling others what to do. If you’ve ever been a leader, you’ll see that this notion is ridiculous. Leadership is about inspiring greatness in others. A great leader is a magnet to success and not a hammer.

WHAT MATTERS TO YOU MOST ABOUT LEADERSHIP?

Purpose. While a project or particular initiative may appear to be super important, I try to stay focused on the big picture. In my job, that means, "Is this one step toward transforming healthcare?". If it’s not, I try to opt out. Additionally, we spend so much time at work that, as a leader, I make fun a priority. How can each of us get a little humor and human connection into our days at work? If we are not having some fun, we should find a new role.

IF WE COULD BUY LEADERSHIP AT A STORE, WHERE WOULD YOU BUY IT?

At a European market because everything sold there is the real deal: authentic, fresh, and colorful. You can find sweetness in local fruit, beauty in flowers, substance in meals, energy in coffee, and vitality in spices. Everything one needs is in one place.

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TeresaBrazen.com

A bit about me:

I’m not your typical coach—I bring an innovator's lens to leadership, and I'm hell-bent on helping you become the impactful leader you aspire to be. I've worked in the design industry for over 15 years—as a design consultant, educator, and business leader. I've helped teams at NASA, Cisco, Clorox, and more adopt innovative ways of working. I spearheaded the global expansion of Cooper Professional Education—a leader in design and creative leadership training—to ten countries. Today, I bring my strategic leadership expertise to bear as a certified Leadership + Executive Coach (CPCC, ACC, Applied Neuroscience). I leverage a robust toolkit encompassing design thinking, neuroscience, and learning development to enhance the leadership capabilities of individuals and teams through coaching, team development programs, workshops, and offsites. My mission is to help good people become great leaders—so that they can enhance their influence and reshape the workplace for the better.