Perfectionism seems to be running rampant in the professional ranks these days. I consider myself a bit of an expert on this topic considering I used to be one. For many 
years, I trusted that inner voice telling me to keep striving to make something better. Little did I know this was rooted in the unfounded fear of making a mistake.
Your work likely requires high standards of quality and attention to detail. However, even in demanding roles, striving for good enough is a much better strategy than striving for perfection.
There are three main drawbacks to perfectionism:
- Perfectionism is Not Attainable
I’m coming to realize perfection is rarely required. Yes, your work likely requires a high level of accuracy but there is probably also a great deal of subjectivity. Perfection is an unrealistic goal.
- Perfectionism Delays Progress
When a 20-minute task takes two hours, other important work piles up. According to the Pareto Principle, 80% of our results are usually achieved in 20% of the time. Then we spin our wheels trying to make something perfect which takes infinitely more time. All of this extra time delays progress.
- Perfectionism is Very Dissatisfying
David Burns, author of Feeling Good claims “the pursuit of perfection is arguably the surest way to undermine happiness and productivity.”
Focus on Progress (instead of perfection)
A far more productive approach is to focus on getting things done instead of perfect. Ironically, the best writers recognize this. Writing Coach Daphne Gray-Grant trains writers not to edit while they write. Rather, she encourages people to produce a crappy first draft. Of course, they then work through the editing. However, at least they are dealing with a completed draft.
The U.S. Marines, who do some pretty important work (i.e., save lives) also recognize the importance of progress. They apply the 70% Rule which goes like this: if they have 70% of the information and have completed 70% of the analysis and are 70% confident in their decision, it is time to act. They know that action far surpasses inaction. If 70% is good enough for the U.S. Marines, then surely the rest of us don’t need to strive for 100% perfection.
Countless organizations recognize the importance of progress. Facebook, a company whose success is largely driven by their speed, has the mantra “Done is Better Than Perfect” plastered all over their head office. Google’s algorithm apparently changes 500+ times per year. Where we would be if Google was still working on perfecting its model before launching?
Even professional athletes recognize that perfection is unnecessary. One of my favorite videos is this one of Michael Jordan talking about his failures. And as we all know, Jordan is one of the most successful athletes of all time.
Ironically, striving for good enough often leads to better results. One of my mentors used to refer to mistakes as “learning”. After all, the best experience always comes from things that go awry. When a culture is consistently striving for an unrealistic standard, people are less likely to take risks and show initiative. Many new inventions and advances were born out of mistakes. Post-it notes and penicillin are two such examples.
Sometimes mistakes even make us seem more approachable. This is especially true for senior executives. A small mistake, like a typo in an email, makes them appear human. They are just like us, after all (thank goodness). Of course, this is not an excuse for sloppy work. We still need to pay close attention to details. We just don’t want to get caught up in analysis paralysis.
Do you find yourself striving for perfection? Are people often telling you to let it go? Where can you scale back and reap the benefits of “good enough”? As a recovering perfectionist, I can attest to the fact that getting things done is so much more rewarding.
Editor’s Note: Ann went through three drafts before finally publishing this article. But hey, it’s better than five like she used to do. Apparently the road to recovery is a long one.
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