Introduction
The article explores the complex relationship between challenges and aspirations. It specifically focuses on the paradox of perfectionism in relation to professional achievement. Perfectionism can lead people to outstanding performance, but it can also mask pitfalls that must be seen and actioned. The purpose of this article is to clarify the dual character of perfectionism in the workplace.
What Is Perfectionism
“Am I a perfectionist?” or “Am I easy-going?”
We come across these thoughts very often in the workplace. It would be helpful to deconstruct the term perfectionism.
Perfectionism, according to the American Psychological Association(2018), is “the tendency to demand of others or oneself an extremely high or even flawless level of performance over what is required by the situation.”
In the workplace context, people strive for perfectionism due to the accumulation of different experiences. The experiences we have growing up with performance, outcomes, and the worth we derive from them can often be a strong contributing factor. Thus, to avoid facing situations that lead to actual or perceived humiliation, disapproval of others, and failures, people often push for an outcome that is near perfect.
It is vital to recognise that perfectionism is a multifaceted attribute with both positive and negative facets, from creating motivation to perform & positive outcomes to overwhelming anxiety and undue criticism of the self that can often lead to the opposite outcome.
Perfectionism At Work & Success
It is seen that at workplaces, more often than not, individuals associate perfectionism as a means to achieve unparalleled heights, access higher opportunities and greater validation from colleagues.
Let’s delve deeper into how perfectionism at work is closely linked to personal beliefs of success.
- At work, perfectionism is sometimes seen as a means of excelling and gaining access to more opportunities.
- It is also frequently connected to getting approval and acknowledgement from superiors and co-workers.
- This validation feeds back into the drive to keep aiming for excellence, resulting in a vicious cycle of performance.
- Some may see perfectionism as an essential skill for career success and growth.
- The culture of work becomes embedded with the goal of excellence, pushing people to continuously push themselves to achieve.
Therefore, it could be inferred that, as these traits of perfectionism may foster creativity, painstaking attention to detail, and outstanding performance, it is crucial to find the correct balance. This careful balance ensures that an individual’s perfectionism does not get in the way of their achievement but instead helps them overcome obstacles and move forward with resilience and a positive outlook.
Benefits & Disadvantages of Perfectionism
Most of the time, people with various personalities, communication preferences, and worldviews interact amongst deadlines and projects at the workplace. Just as every coin has two sides, perfectionism also has its bright and dark side.
- One of the benefits of being a perfectionist is that individuals are mostly seen as motivated and are driven towards achieving more at the workplace. They are often seen to have a sense of control and can stay focused for longer durations.
- However, the downside of perfectionism leads to stress, vulnerability & burnout. Perfectionists frequently experience excessive and draining pressure to achieve at an unachievable high level and punish themselves if they are unable to attribute all the negative outcomes to themselves. In the long term, this can hinder performance and cause burnout.
- Perfectionism is regularly thought of by managers and employees alike as a positive trait that enables an employee to strive toward a perfect performance/product, according to a study by Beheshtifar, Mazrae-Sefidi, & Nekoie Moghadam, M. (2011). Perfectionism does have a “dark side,” though. Behaviours commonly linked to clinical disorders, including depression, health issues, and extreme stress, may result from one’s “dark side.”
Managing Perfectionism at the Workplace
Managing your perfectionism at the workplace is to be able to work through your challenges and diligently see them through. It might sound impossible and difficult to complete the task given with utmost perfection; however, here are a few ways one can keep a check/manage themselves :
- Mistakes and Feedback: We must allow ourselves to make mistakes and hear the feedback we receive. Not only does one learn to be patient but also from the mistakes made.
- Timelines and deadlines: Often timelines and deadlines seem impossible, however creating lists, and breaking things down for ourselves can bridge the gap from being almost there to being there.
- Break the cycle of rumination-Another tip to complete your tasks smoothly is to break the cycle of rumination – instead of delving into our thoughts again and again, one must strive to identify the causes, see how you can change or replace these thoughts, and finally get perspectives and have a positive outlook.
How Does Perfectionism At Work Affect Your Mental Health
There are controversies on perfectionism and its impact on mental health- whether it is positive or negative. Let’s delve into this using a few research studies.
- Psychopathological problems: As stated by Kearns et al. (2007) and Egan et al. (2011), Psychosomatic illnesses and psychological disorders are the main ways that perfectionism has a detrimental impact on mental health. A wide range of psychopathological problems, including eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and psychosomatic diseases, have been linked to perfectionism in earlier research. They go on to say that the most typical symptom of perfectionists is depression. People who exhibit perfectionism are more likely to experience stress and sadness. Perfectionism has been linked in studies to feelings of powerlessness, disappointment, rage, and anxiety, as well as failure. These feelings are closely related to suicidal ideation and depression.
- Perfectionism’s beneficial impacts on mental health are primarily shown in how it affects people’s emotions and sense of fulfilment in life. According to Gaudreau and Thompson’s (2010) research, people who strive for perfection exhibit considerably higher levels of good affect and lower levels of negative affect compared to people who don’t strive for perfection.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as powerful a motivator as perfectionism can be, it is important to be cautious when navigating through complex dynamics. Perfectionism can be used to one’s advantage, which enables individuals to harness its benefits for professional growth. However, being alert is necessary to steer clear of the excess stress and self-criticism. Finding the ideal balance to resolve this contradiction is to allow for ambition without compromising well-being. By fostering a work culture that celebrates progress, values learning from mistakes, and promotes a holistic approach to success, individuals can channel the energy of perfectionism constructively, ensuring a fulfilling and successful career.
References
Beheshtifar, M., Mazrae-Sefidi, F., & Nekoie Moghadam, M. (2011). Role of perfectionism at the workplace. European Journal of Economics, Finance and Administrative Sciences, 38, 167-173.
Gaudreau, P., & Thompson, A. (2010). Testing a 2× 2 model of dispositional perfectionism. Personality and Individual Differences, 48(5), 532-537.
Fang, T., & Liu, F. (2022). A review on perfectionism. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 10(1), 355-364.
Kearns, H., Forbes, A., & Gardiner, M. (2007). A Cognitive Behavioral Coaching Intervention for the Treatment of Perfectionism and Self-Handicapping in a Nonclinical Population. Behaviour Change, 24, 157-172.
Egan, S. J., Wade, T. D., Shafran, R. (2011). Perfectionism as a Transdiagnostic Process: A Clinical Review. Clinical Psychology Review, 31, 203-212.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2010.04.009
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