“Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.”

– Winston Churchill

One of the largest road blocks to my leadership growth was this idea that I had to do it all on my own and that any perception that I couldn’t make it alone was an admission of weakness or failure on my part. But the reality in leadership couldn’t be further from my naive belief: Leadership requires others to join us on our journey. We need feedback from our team, our colleagues, and other leaders in our lives. We need the voices of others to help us know when it is time to celebrate a win and when it is time to push forward toward a new and more challenging goal. We need people to tell us when we are wrong. When to slow down or stop. It takes a community to lift the eyes of a leader past the difficulties of the journey upward toward the destination. It take a village to cure perfectionism. Here are five (more) remedies to the roadblocks of perfectionism:

1. Seek Feedback Early and Often

Perfectionists often delay sharing their work until they believe it’s flawless, missing out on valuable feedback that could improve their efforts. By seeking feedback early and often, you can gain different perspectives and make iterative improvements. This approach not only enhances the quality of your work but also helps you become more comfortable with imperfection.

2. Celebrate Small Wins

Take time to celebrate your progress, no matter how small. Recognize and reward yourself for completing tasks, even if they’re not perfect. Celebrating small wins can boost your confidence and motivate you to keep moving forward. This positive reinforcement helps shift your focus from what’s lacking to what’s been achieved.

3. Surround Yourself with Supportive People

Having a supportive network can make a significant difference in overcoming perfectionism. Surround yourself with people who encourage you to take risks, accept imperfections, and celebrate your efforts. Their support and perspective can help you stay grounded and focused on progress rather than perfection.

4. Focus on the Journey, Not Just the Destination

Perfectionism often causes people to focus solely on the end result, overlooking the value of the process. By shifting your focus to the journey, you can appreciate the growth and learning that occur along the way. Embrace the challenges and setbacks as opportunities for development, and find joy in the process of creation and improvement.

5. Practice Mindfulness and Stress-Reduction Techniques

Perfectionism is often driven by anxiety and stress. Practicing mindfulness and stress-reduction techniques, such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises, can help calm your mind and reduce the pressure to be perfect. These practices can enhance your overall well-being and make it easier to adopt a more balanced and realistic approach to your goals.

Let’s Connect and Grow Together

If you found today’s post helpful and you want to explore options to fuel your leadership growth let’s connect and discuss how 1:1 coaching can support your leadership journey.

When Perfection Gets in the Way—Part Two