Progress over Perfection

How do you know when your work is good enough?

A client and I were discussing perfectionism last week. Having explored the impact this was having on their work, we concluded... ‘perfectionism gets in the way of progress.’

If the choice is to do 3 things well or 1 perfectly, getting more work done is usually more valuable. It is especially true when you are a leader and completing your work enables others to progress with theirs.

It has more implications too... Perfectionism focuses on ‘not good enough yet’. It creates hesitation, doubt, erodes self-worth with its critical voice and drains you of time and energy.

AND… the longer you spend on something, the more the value of your time diminishes.

For some, perfectionism gets dialled up during stressful times. It can be part of an over-functioning response.

THERE IS A SOLUTION… Recognising this pattern and bringing awareness to it, can help you pause and question your behaviour.

Ask yourself:

“Is this serving me well? Is this helping me to move forward”

I find that ‘good enough’ will depend on the situation. Sometimes close to perfect is required. Sometimes 80% is enough. You can assess that for yourself. It is possible to maintain your standards without getting lost in perfection – which is one of the many things I work on with my clients.

If you are interested in coaching, drop me a line or pick up the phone and book a free 30-minute call to find out more.