If we always want to be perfect, we can’t work productively. So we have to get rid of our perfectionism if we want to become successful.
Again and again we meet people who e.g. Saying the following, “I can’t start working because I can’t put down my perfectionism” or “I can’t finish this project because I’m so perfectionist minded”.”
Often the supposed tendency to perfectionism has completely different causes. In truth, they would probably have to say “I’m distracted by other things right now” or “This work is overwhelming me right now” or “I’d rather do something else right now” etc.. But it could also be that we are just putting our perfectionism forward, but at heart we are actually afraid of failure or afraid of rejection.
In this article you will learn how to get rid of perfectionism in business.
1. Never wait for the perfect moment
Because of your perceived perfectionism, many people do not start working. They then say e.g. “I’m not good enough yet” or “I don’t have the right plan yet” or “the others are better than me” or “I don’t have the right work material.”
I could continue this list endlessly. Some people are very inventive when it comes to finding excuses why they can’t start work.
Remember: there is never a perfect time to start! We can never prepare perfectly for our work.
From my own experience, I can say this: you need to get rid of that perfectionism if you want to be productive. I often didn’t start taking action in the past because I kept coming up with new excuses. Always I was of the opinion that I was still missing a lot of things to create my website. My perfectionism really paralyzed me. Today I know: if I always wait for the perfect moment, I’ll never get started and I certainly won’t achieve my goals.
It is understandable that one wants to be perfectly prepared for a task. But at some point we have to say goodbye to this claim and just start working.
In the beginning, we cannot judge whether we are properly prepared or whether the framework conditions are perfect. It is only through our actions that we get results that give us information about whether we are on the right track. We may then find that we still need to take a course or do some research.
Set aside your perfectionism and take the first step. Then decide if your preparation and the framework are “good enough” for you to master the next tasks.
2. Improve your product constantly
Set aside your perfectionism by finishing your product and offering it to your customers, even if you think it’s not perfect yet.
You must first offer your product to the customer in order to make it “perfect”. Only through his feedback can you optimize the product. Only your customers can judge whether your product or service is “perfect”. Improve and optimize your product step by step. This is a continuous process.
Bringing a perfect product to market is difficult if only because the market is constantly changing. A product that is “perfect” today may no longer meet this requirement tomorrow.
Think about technical products of big companies. Do you know any software that is perfect on the day it is released? Every software, after it is launched, is improved step by step. New updates are constantly appearing that contain bug fixes and improvements. The same applies to technical devices. When a new device is launched, a newer optimized version is usually released shortly afterwards. Even if some people don’t like to hear that: New products are usually not yet optimal at the beginning. Only in the course of time, they are optimized and adapted to the needs of the customer.
3. Do your best
Set aside your perfectionism by resolving to always do your best. Being perfect and doing your best are not the same thing. To be perfect means to be perfect and free from defects. It is simply unrealistic. But if we do our best, we try to get the best results, within our possibilities. So we accept reality.
Actually, perfection is an illusion. Nothing in our world is perfect, because everything can always be done a little better. So wanting to be perfect is utopian and even harmful. If you want to get rid of your perfectionism, take it upon yourself to improve things step by step. This is much more realistic.
Nobody is perfect and we cannot create perfect things. Especially not “off the cuff. Just as there is no such thing as the perfect person, there are no such things as perfect products or services. But we can strive to continuously optimize our work and our products and services. This would be a healthy attitude.
In principle, there is nothing wrong with having high expectations of yourself and your work. But we must not take on too much at once, and we must not overextend ourselves in the process. In the worst case, this can even lead to burnout.
You decide yourself when your product is so “mature” that you can put it on the market. Often the product is already “good enough” for the customer to finish and offer it.
Recognizing this moment is not always easy. This is where it shows whether you are a perfectionist or a realist. The perfectionist never finds an end to his work and is never satisfied with it. The realist puts his product on the market because he knows he did his best.
Conclusion:
Perfectionistic people can hardly work productively and be successful in business. They do not start their work or they postpone it. Often it turns out that behind the supposed perfectionism other things are hidden. Often we get distracted from our tasks or we develop anxiety. With these tips, you can shed your perfectionism:
Do not wait for the perfect time, because it will never exist. Dare to take the first steps and start with your work. When you get the first results, you can decide whether you need to make further preparations or change the framework conditions.
Offer your product, even if you think it is not “perfect” yet. You can make your product “perfect” only after you offer it. Customers decide whether your product meets their needs and wants. After that you can constantly improve your product.
Always give your best. To be perfect means to be perfect. Perfectionists behave unrealistically. However, if you do your best, you strive for the optimal result, within the limits of your possibilities. It’s good to have high expectations of yourself. But nobody is perfect, and neither is any product in this world. So when you set aside your perfectionism, look reality in the eye.