Misplaced Perfectionism
AMAR PRIDED himself on being a perfectionist. He was constantly driven by the compulsion to win and at the same time be perfect in every aspect of his work. He continually set exceedingly high standards and over ambitious goals; even a minor failure could depress him for days. For all his intelligence, hard work and drive, Amar never reached the heights he dreamt of.
Research has shown that extreme addiction to perfectionism is one of the significant factors in procrastination and non-achievement of goals. Misplaced perfectionism can prove to be a dreadful flaw. To quote a cliché, perfectionists like Amar tend not to see the wood for the trees. In an attempt to do everything perfectly, regardless of its importance, they treat even inconsequential matters so thoroughly that they often end up missing important deadlines and targets. The common term here is analysis-paralysis.
Here is how you can prevent perfectionism from becoming a stumbling block:
The kind of perfectionism that sabotages instead of supporting is based on things we think we `should' do or achieve rather than what is realistic. So rather than trying to work towards perfection, focus on working towards success.
Develop the ability set priorities. Before starting a project or an assignment, decide on its importance and the time within which it has to be accomplished. Prioritise your work and determine tasks that require minimum or maximum effort. Choose to put less effort on less important tasks and exert yourself where it can give you the greatest benefits.
Perfectionists are often driven by the fear that if they relax or let go, someone else may better them. One can lose all pleasure in a joyful activity in constantly trying to keep up with the Joneses. Base your goals on internal expectations and desires instead of comparing them with the next person.
Make sure your goals are realistic. Rather than setting unfeasible goals that are doomed to failure, experiment with your standards for success. Once you reach a certain standard or goal, set your next target one level beyond your present level of accomplishment. A gradual increase in standards will help you set realistic goals based on your limits and abilities
Work with an eye on the deadline. Set time frames for all your tasks and subtasks. Focus on finishing the job well within the deadline, and use the time left over for rechecking and fine-tuning rather than getting bogged down with minutiae along the way.
Determine the consequences, both positive and negative, of using a less exacting approach. Find out if there are easier less rigorous ways to accomplish your goals. Is it necessary that you do the job yourself or all that matters is that the job gets done? If it is the latter case, consider delegating the work to subordinates, while you concentrate on the bigger picture.
Recognise that mistakes will happen; in fact most things in life can only be learnt by making mistakes and encountering failure. Think of all the positive things you have learnt from the experience.
The quest for perfectionism can rob you of a sense of personal satisfaction and self worth; you end up feeling like a failure, even if you are actually good. There may be a handful of perfectionists among those who are successful, but then success is evaluated not only in terms of what you accomplished but also in terms of how much you enjoyed the task. After all, the process of pursuing a goal is just as valuable as the end result.
BINDU SRIDHAR
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