We have a tendency to decry perfectionists. There is much hue and cry that such sticklers are obsessed workaholics who can never relax, always need to be in control and are excessively sensitive to criticism. Fearing failure, they continuously reproach themselves over the slightest error. Add to this the stubborn and confrontational traits, and little wonder that many perfectionists try to keep their innate nature under wraps.
Like every coin there are two sides to this supposed ‘neurosis’ as well. Yes, startling but true, it is this ‘unhealthy’ perfectionism itself that drives an individual towards great achievement and extraordinary results. In fact, scratch the surface of any high achiever and in all probability you will find a perfectionist. And it is mostly perfectionism that makes them great!
The tendency to strive for excellence turns out as not only healthy, but even desirable! If you are still unconvinced, let’s take a look at what makes perfectionists so sought-after: Perfectionists always set high goals and then work immensely hard to achieve them. They will persevere in the face of the toughest obstacles without even thinking of giving up the pursuit. They are driven to constantly excel and outperform others. The motivation to be the best forms the life force driving them to persist towards brilliance.
They have a critical eye and pay diligent attention to detail and quality. Never failing to miss the slightest thing, they often even anticipate unforeseen issues. Needless to say, nothing less than perfect is acceptable and perfectionists will never settle for mediocre work, try to cut corners or resort to an ‘it will do’ attitude. In fact, the constant pursuit of excellence itself will never let them rest on their laurels. Perfectionists are not only passionate about their work, but also gain both pleasure and pride from the results of their efforts.
Perfectionists not only set high standards for themselves, but will not let others get away with shoddy work either. They are not afraid to confront low-performers and always push them to do better, thus teaching others to raise their standards and pursue best practices.
To sum up in the words of Gary Ryan Blair, a visionary and strategic thinker, “Perfectionists search for ways to make the complex simple, visualise the perfect outcome, and work with an obsessive sense of conviction to make their vision a reality.”
It is high time that organisations start realising that perfectionism is a sign of commitment and devotion to work. This ‘damaging’ trait indeed is what empowers them to achieve more, so much more. So, think, can you afford to lose these achievers who are mainly responsible for your business success or have them slowly turn into sloppy workers?
So start recognising and protecting employees at all levels who have perfectionist instincts. Understand that it is never easy to be a perfectionist; it takes enormous courage and the least it deserves is appropriate appreciation. Management should celebrate the important role of these ‘special people’. Try to always look after them by offering requisite support and public praise/rewards. Hand in hand, also foster a culture of perfectionism across the board that motivates everyone towards higher achievements.
On the flip side, perfectionists also need to be dealt with a firm hand, as they are often liable to establish unrealistic goals and then needlessly beat themselves up over the supposed ‘failure’. Teach them to set achievable standards and take sensible risks while building the resilience to face disappointments, learn from the mistakes and move on. Try to rationalise that getting excessively lost in the minor details wastes not only time and energy but also leads to missed opportunities.
What is needed is an objective and positive mindset that is not tunnel-visioned and can accept constructive criticism without getting defensive. Therefore, high achievers should balance their perfectionism with pragmatism by subtracting the negative obsessive traits!
PAYAL CHANANIA
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