Is Your Perfectionist Holding You Back?
Are you a perfectionist? Do you have perfectionist traits?
Engineers by nature have a deep desire to get things 100% correct and perfect. And don't get me wrong, this personality trait is completely functional and needed when it comes to de-risking a project, system or process. In fact the general population who use or are affected by the things you design and create WANT you to use your perfectionist so that nothing goes wrong!
However, sometimes this perfectionist trait can cause friction within yourself as well as your clients and your team.
Let me explain.
Have you ever had a client call you up and ask you to get your deliverables done more quickly? Or a client bring forward a project deadline by a week just because they can? Have you ever had a team member get frustrated with you that you're taking too long on the element that you're working on and it's delaying them getting started?
And when this happened, did you FEEL yourself getting frustrated, overwhelmed and maybe even a little bit angry at these people putting pressure on you?
Well this frustration, overwhelm and even anger is coming from the viewpoint of your perfectionist.
As leaders and business owners, you will be constantly called to find that balance between the parts of your personality that want to get things technically perfect (your perfectionist) as well as the parts of your personality that want to make good money on the project by getting things done quickly and meeting the needs of your clients and your team (these parts of your personality could be your leader, your strategist or your people pleaser).
There is a constant internal dance that occurs between the differing parts of your personality that want different things and will push and pull you in different directions based on their differing viewpoints, wants and desires.
For example, some projects or elements within your team or business will require less of your perfectionist and more of your leader/ strategist whilst others will require more of your perfectionist and less of your leader / strategist depending on a range of factors such as risk profile, client outcomes etc.
And this dance will be a constant source of internal friction within yourself unless you learn to understand yourself and these different parts of your personality more deeply.
Once you develop this connection and understanding of the different parts of your personality, you'll be able to do this dance more comfortably and will no longer have these different parts of your personality causing friction or holding you back from achieving what you want in your team or business.
Josh 'Being A Perfectionist Is OK' Stone
PS: If you’re interested, here are 4 ways I can help you right now:
- Join the Leaders In Engineering community designed specifically for engineering leaders and business owners
It’s our new Facebook community where engineering leaders and business owners are learning the strategies and leadership skills to step up and thrive right now – Click Here to join
- Download our FREE PDF guide – “How To Build A High Performing & Highly Profitable Engineering Team”
Learn the skills to get the most out of the people around you. Build a high performing engineering team that generates incredible profits and allows you to have more fun and to spend more time with the people you love – Click Here
- Book in a 15min Check In Session
Let’s discuss how you can tackle a volatile marketplace, gain visibility on the issues, challenges and problems you are facing at the moment and then work on a plan together for how to break through the mountain in front of you in order to step up and thrive! – Click Here
- Have me work with you and your team privately
If you’re serious about getting real results and you’d like me to work directly with you and your team… just send me an email at [email protected] and put “Private” in the subject line...tell me a little about yourself, the challenges you are facing and what you’d like to work on together, and I’ll be in touch to discuss a plan!
