Do you struggle with perfectionism? Don't worry, you're not alone, many of my clients do. It's what holds you back. It's what stops you getting
started.
Perfectionism isn't about excellence or being the best. It's about the fear of making mistakes, of being judged, or putting something out there before it feels “just right”.
- Constantly rewriting emails and documents.
- Never feeling ready to share until it’s “perfect”.
- Overthinking tiny details.
- Worrying about mistakes or what others might think.
The little voice that says:
“It has to be just right.”
“If I get it wrong, everyone will notice.”
“Just one more tweak...”
Which of those do you find yourself doing or saying?
'Perfect' is a moving target and if you keep trying to attain it, it's exhausting and takes up a disproportionate amount of
time.
Letting go of perfectionism doesn’t mean lowering your standards. Instead you need to learn to:
- Trust your process - stop second guessing yourself or what everyone else might be thinking.
- Accept a little uncertainty and the 'perfectly imperfect'.
- Value progress over perfection - think 80/20
Excellence vs. Obsession
There’s a difference between having high standards of excellence and obsessing about perfectionism.
High standards help you to grow and improve. Perfectionism leaves you stuck, second-guessing and expotentially absorbs your time.
Are you tweaking to improve, delaying and avoiding, or just silencing your inner critical voice?
The 80% Rule For Perfectionists
“Done” doesn’t have to mean perfect.
It means what you're working on is complete, effective and ready for the next step. Get it out there to be seen and used, not endlessly polished but hidden away.
Aim for 80% NOT 100%. Your 80% is often more than good enough for someone else and far more valuable as it is than not sharing it at all.
You're not cutting corners, you just need to be clearer about what 'done' looks like:
- Does it do what it needs to do?
- Is it accurate and clear?
- Would you be comfortable for someone to act on it?
If the answer is 'yes', then it’s done. Let it go.
The remaining 20%? That’s what takes up extra time, where you get stuck and start to doubt yourself. It doesn’t need to be perfect to have an impact.
Be Brave!
Practicing sharing before you're ready. Challenge yourself to:
- Share work before you feel 100% ready. Set a
time limit in which to get it done and stick to it!
- Send drafts and ask for feedback rather than endless self-editing or second guessing what's needed.
Remember, you don’t need to silence your inner perfectionist, just need to stop it from running you ragged.
Each week, reflect on:
- What did you overwork, delay or leave unfinished because it wasn’t quite “good enough”?
- Was it an extra hour or two spent tweaking, a task left in draft, or holding back instead of stepping forward?
This isn’t about judgement, it’s about being more aware of how you work and where your time goes. Catch those moments and allow yourself to get out of your own way.
So, stop wasting time, energy and money trying to achieve perfection.
And if you want to work on your perfectionist habit, come and join me at this month's webinar. 👇
