Do you find the idea of being perfect in all your pursuits rather appealing? In fact, many people do. In the age of competition and the need to be the best, many people feel that being a perfectionist is their strongest quality. However, is it really? We will learn about the pros and cons of workplace perfectionism in this article.
Who is a Perfectionist?
First and foremost, we need to understand what perfectionism really means. Perfectionism is the tendency to strive for flawlessness. By its very definition, it seems that all of us should be striving for it. However, perfectionism is more often than not accompanied by the tendency to fixate and ruminate about one’s performance, trying hard to control every facet of the task, and being extremely harsh on one’s mistakes. In addition, perfectionism is often accompanied by obsessive slowness. In other words, a perfectionist can never click the submit button without making sure that each and every nook and corner of the task is flawless. All of these factors, together with the lack of flexibility of the person making it impossible for other co-workers to work in a peaceful space. Therefore, perfectionists not only hamper their own productivity and peace but also that of others around them. Perfectionism has nothing to do with a desire to give one’s best. Rather it is a shield that protects the person from the shame and embarrassment of not doing a good job.
How to recognize a perfectionist?
We can easily recognize a perfectionist in any social setting with very few interactions with the person. For instance, they are likely to suffer from high levels of anxiety. Any situation where they feel the pressure of being evaluated evokes anxiety responses in them. They would also overthink and ruminate. Here are a few signs of perfectionism:
Procrastination:
A key characteristic of perfectionists is procrastination. This mainly arises because of the need to be flawless and an inability to start a task till they know how to do it fully.
Having unrealistically high performance standards:
Perfectionists often set very high standards for themselves. Most of these standards are way out of the person’s ability. Therefore, they are likely to set unachievable goals.
Shame on unattained goals:
They are likely to feel extreme levels of shame and embarrassment when they fail to achieve goals. Since their goals are anyway unrealistic, shame is almost inevitable for them. This, in turn, initiates a vicious cycle of rumination, anxiety, and poor wellbeing.
Focus only on the end result:
We all make mistakes in our work and learn to be better in the process. Enjoying and appreciating the journey is as important as the end product. However, perfectionists do not believe in this. Rather, they judge the utility of activity by the end result.
Desire to win every time:
Nothing less than victory satisfies a perfectionist. They are very bad at accepting failures and learning from them.
Self-criticism:
Perfectionists are very critical of each and every action they take. They are too preoccupied with failures and imperfections and are extremely judgemental.
Fear of Failure:
They are often paralyzed by the fear of failing at a task. The most common consequence of this is their tendency to procrastinate.
Slowness:
Perfectionists are very slow in their work. They have trouble taking a step forward if they have the slightest doubt about it. As a result, they are most likely to miss deadlines.
Low self-esteem:
All of the above symptoms are actually manifestations of low self-esteem. Since they have trouble trusting their own abilities, they are likely to hide behind the shield of perfectionism.
Mental health problems:
Perfectionism is strongly associated with mental health problems like depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks, and many more.
Why is perfectionism not good for us?
First and foremost, we should never confuse perfectionism with high achievers or the desire to do a good job. In fact, it is a condition where individuals actually under-perform but are constantly experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety. Therefore, the star performer of your group is not a perfectionist.
Perfectionism actually stems from the unconscious fear of disapproval and societal judgment. Due to this reason, we often see that children of extremely strict and punishing parents often develop this problem. The fear of parental love and approval forces the child to try to be flawless. However, over time, they develop high anxiety, fear of punishment, fear of rejection, and low self-esteem. This gives rise to mental health issues in adult life.
How to reduce perfectionistic tendencies?
Reducing perfectionistic tendencies is not an easy task. It is a battle between the inner unrealistic world and the outer real world. However, there are certain steps that can be taken to manage it and lead a happy life:
- Positive affirmations help dealing with low self-esteem and has been found to be helful for anxiety patients as well. Since perfectionism is a self-esteem and anxiety issue, trying positive affirmations may help.
- Psychotherapy: Therapy to reduce anxiety and the fears associated with “not being good enough” may help.
- Parenting Style impacts the mental health of children throughout their lives. Hence, new parents may consider parenting guidelines to raise mentally strong children.
- Mindfulness helps us be more aware of ourselves and the tasks we do everyday. Being more mindful will help us recognize the problems in our behaviors and thoughts. Therefore, it will be easier for us to control the same.
Conclusion
Therefore, perfectionism is not something to boast and be proud about. In fact, it is a serious anxiety problem and can lead to maladaptive behaviors. Perfectionistic tendencies can actually slow us down and make our lives worse.