Why Perfectionism Limits Your Productivity in the 21st Century
Congrats to the Class of 2024.
If I were invited to give a commencement address, this would be my message:
Perfection is critical for doctors, accountants, aviators, and engineers—professions in which mistakes can be fatal. But when you constantly strive for perfection, it becomes a problem.
For example, Dave expected flawless financial statements but could overlook imperfections if the compensation plan came fast. Often, good really is enough; spending that final twenty percent won’t yield a better outcome. Perfectionism limits your success and enjoyment of life.
Perfectionists link their identity to accomplishments, continuously seeking affirmation that they’re good enough. Otherwise, they feel like imposters and failures—depressed and insecure. They avoid taking risks. They can’t take rejection. They’ll put their heads down, study, practice, take lessons, and get advanced degrees with honors. They pass the CPA exam but don’t become partners. They try out for a Broadway show and give up after one rejection. The list goes on.
What’s the new strategy for success in the 21st century?
What’s great about perfectionists is that they care about doing things well and want to be productive. Key synonyms for “productive” include effective, industrious, and practical.
As a perfectionist, I see two other possible synonyms that some might equate with productive: profitable, focused on the bottom line, and gratifying, focused on the process. But therein lies the conflict. Perfectionists strive to achieve or exceed standards. They often work too slowly, missing the big picture or pushing themselves too hard. In contrast, focusing on the process means better results through the creation of a supportive environment.
So, what does productive mean in the 21st century? Doing great work is no longer enough. Both quantity and quality are critical. Even perfectionists must learn to complete only seventy-five percent of some tasks and not spend the extra effort to achieve one hundred percent.
In his 2016 book Originals, Wharton Business School professor Adam Grant says the trade-off between quantity and quality is false. Research shows that new ideas increase quality.
However, many people fail to generate new ideas because they’re too focused on perfection. In an article in The New York Times Magazine by writer Adam Davidson, “Welcome to the Failure Age!” Davidson said, “We’re now in the age of constant invention, which begets constant failure. Innovation’s lifespan has never been shorter; most new products last just a few years or less. To harness this new age of failure, we have to bounce back from mistakes quickly.”
