Over the years, I have personally witnessed counter-productive thinking patterns that hold people back (many of them my own coaching clients). Some examples include lacking emotional intelligence or leading through coercion.

But there's one specific mindset that demands attention. I've seen it stifle collaboration and slow down their own and other people's productivity on the job. It's often what answers the question, "Why aren't things working the way I planned?"

There's only one word for it: Perfectionism.

Perfectionism is a thinking pattern that can be harmful to a team, even if it often goes unnoticed. It usually partners with denial, and together they cause self-defeating thoughts and unhealthy behaviors. 

To prevent its negative effects, one must be willing to recognize and take responsibility for their actions. Otherwise, it will continue to cause damage. Let's look at how a perfectionist mindset typically derails one's and other people's productivity, self-esteem, and morale. 

1. Goals are often unrealistic

Sometimes, people who strive for perfection set their goals or standards at an extremely high level that they cannot realistically achieve. As a result, when they fall short of meeting these unreachable standards, they may give up on an important task. 

Additionally, if a colleague performs better than them, they may feel like they have failed and struggle to recover from it. They may also hide their mistakes from others due to feeling ashamed of their perceived failure.

2. There's a fear of taking risks 

Someone who strives for perfection may be hesitant to take risks while completing a task or finding a solution. They may fear that they will not be able to achieve perfection if they take a risk. 

As a result, they may opt for safer tasks that they are confident they can complete, even if it is not the best approach for the team. Studies have found perfectionists to be risk-averse, which can inhibit innovation and creativity.

3. Too much reliance on the opinion of others

Some individuals who strive for perfection may struggle with the process of acquiring new knowledge, experimenting with new ideas, working alongside others or considering alternative perspectives. 

This may stem from an excessive reliance on the opinions of others, and a fear that revealing their flaws could lead to rejection from their peers. Consequently, they may become fixated on achieving a particular outcome, rather than enjoying the journey.

4. Failure to delegate

Perfectionists often struggle with delegating tasks to others because they worry that the task won't be performed as well as they would do it themselves. This can lead to difficulties in trusting others who may be just as competent as the perfectionist.

5. Procrastination

People who strive for perfection often become preoccupied with the fear of making mistakes, causing them to become stuck in a state of indecision and ultimately fail to take any action. 

This issue is compounded when perfectionism is driven by a need for social validation, as it can lead to procrastination. Research shows that this type of perfectionism is strongly associated with delaying tasks.

6. Black-and-white thinking

Individuals who exhibit perfectionist tendencies often approach things with an extreme mindset. They may only take on new projects or tasks if they feel confident in their ability to succeed, and may avoid anything that carries a risk of failure. 

For them, life is a binary game with no middle ground. Once a perfectionist decides to pursue a goal, their intense drive can sometimes lead them to disregard the feelings or needs of others in their determination to achieve success.

If I've described you or someone you know, here are some positive changes to put into play in a work setting:

• Set realistic goals – short and long-term – and break them down into smaller goals: weekly, daily or even hourly goals.
• Ask yourself, "Did I set the bar too high? Your emotions may be telling you that you're trying to hit an unrealistic target, which may lead to self-sabotage.
• Don't fear failure. Look at your mistakes as a part of the learning journey – your professional development evolution.
• Identify self-imposed, rigid rules you live by, and reword them so they're more flexible and forgiving.
• Be careful of using black-and-white thinking or verbalizing these thoughts; it will often lead to unrealistic expectations. Ask yourself, "Am I thinking in terms of extremes?"

Inc