“Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down… so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 31:28 NIV
When I started my career about a decade ago, it would be easy and comfortable to say my first boss was the main reason I became a workaholic.
But the truth is, it started in childhood. I was raised by a perfectionist mum. Nothing was ever done right for her. As the firstborn, I also had to appear perfect for my siblings. My dad on the other hand had no perfectionist traits in him.
I guess that continuous need to always please her changed my belief of what work should be. It shifted from me doing something that pleased me to pleasing someone else. External validation at its finest.
So How Do You Fix This?
The quest to always please others has no good destination. Eventually, you lose yourself and live for others. Trying to then get yourself back becomes an uphill task.
I had to become self-aware of this fact and either lower or remove expectations completely. It would be great as a leader to have a perfect team, but team members are imperfect people, so results can’t be perfect. Excellence is a more achievable feat.
The ability to look away and form new strategies that get results is also worth learning. Being too involved in everything just created frustration. So, I step away from the process and steer the ship towards the results.
Fixing perfectionism changes how you work. It may take a lifetime to master, but the good thing is you get to start the journey.
Are you a perfectionist? How has it affected your work? I’d love to hear it.
Today’s Task: Trying to please others is only one of many root causes. Take time to reflect and find the deeper reason why you work the way you do.
Complete this…
“If I could motivate or push others around me to higher standards of excellence, I would first start with…”
If you’re a leader, this is something to think about. Pick each area of your life where you lead and complete the statement above.
Source: I get these Growth prompts from GrowthDay.
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