Perfectionism

Do you have a perfectionist in your group?   Someone who gets too bogged down in the details of the work--spending unnecessary time perfecting details that aren't an essential priority?  Someone who is always tweaking and refining? Perfectionism isn’t about effort – giving 150%, but about being exact.

Having a perfectionist on your team can lead to problems.  Their “I can do it better” attitude is divisive and creates unnecessary tension.  They tend to not work collaboratively.  Longer and longer work hours lead to burn out but not increased productivity.  Their ongoing demand for perfection tends to leave them with feelings of failure.  And they tend to be lousy delegators.

What’s possible?  Change happens when someone sees things from a new perspective and engages in new activities.  To help the individual see the draw backs of their behavior share a situation in which their perfectionism created a breakdown in the work environment, i.e. a missed deadline or open conflict with a coworker, and talk it through.  Ask open-ended questions. 

          1. What did you hope to accomplish through your efforts?

          2. What are some specific ways that you could have moderated your goals?

          3. What consequences might have resulted from such changes?

Once the individual begins to see a different picture, work with him to set goals that are easier to achieve and within the realm of his possibilities.  Moderate your employee’s expectations – shifting their focus away from faults and flaws – and then watch their performance and self-esteem soar.