How to Shift Focus from Perfectionism to Progress

"I don't expect perfection," you say, while simultaneously reaching for your red pen to mark up a document that's already on its 14th revision. Sound familiar? That gap between what we claim about our standards and how we actually behave might be the first clue that we've crossed from "high standards" territory into the land of impossible expectations—a place where great work goes to die and good people go to burn out. Now, I'm a devout "anti-perfectionist" but many of my #coaching clients are quite the opposite. And here are four signs that their standards (read: YOUR standards) might have crossed into problematic territory: 1. You find fault with nearly everything. When was the last time you wholeheartedly approved of someone's work without suggesting improvements? If you can't remember, your standards may be unreachable or unreasonable. 2. You're reluctant to #delegate. If you believe no one can do the job as well as you can, you're probably right—because you've set the bar at an impossible height. And even if YOU can clear that bar doesn't mean that everyone else can or should be able to. They have other strengths that you may not have. That's called #diversity. 3. Your team seems hesitant to share ideas. When people anticipate criticism rather than collaboration, they stop taking risks and #innovation suffers. 4. The impact on your colleagues is significant: decreased #morale, reduced creativity, and eventual disengagement. "Why bother trying when nothing is ever good enough?" becomes their inner voice -- and the unspoken team motto. And for you? Perpetual disappointment, increasing isolation, and #burnout. Also, you're exhausted. #Perfectionism is exhausting—for you and everyone around you. The path forward isn't lowering your standards—it's making them reasonable: 1. Define "good enough" clearly for each project. What specifically constitutes success rather than perfection? 2. Adopt a "growth standards" mindset. Instead of fixed perfection, focus on whether each project represents significant progress from the last one. 3. Ask yourself: "How much will this matter in a week? A month? A year?" Most imperfections won't. 4. Practice saying "This works well" without adding "but..." 5. Create a "standards check-in" with your team. Schedule a monthly conversation where everyone can openly discuss whether expectations feel challenging yet achievable. This accountability practice prevents standard-creep and builds #psychologicalsafety. 6. Reflect on projects that you were a part of that were successful without being perfect. Remind yourself that you and everyone around you survived! Remember, truly high standards should elevate people, not diminish them. The best #leaders don't just drive excellence—they make excellence achievable. What's one way you've balanced high standards with reasonable expectations? I'd love to hear your approach. #DEIB #perfectionism #accountability #leadership

Ever feel like perfectionism is paralyzing your productivity? (Here's how to break free) Let's cut to the chase. Perfectionism isn't actually about being perfect. It's about fear. Fear of failure. Fear of not being good enough. And for many of us with ADHD, that fear can be crippling. My client, let's call him Alex, knows this all too well. Alex is an incredibly talented entrepreneur bursting with innovative ideas. But every time he sat down to work, he'd get trapped in an endless loop of overthinking and tweaking. 🔸 He'd spend hours crafting the "perfect" email. 🔸 Days revising a proposal that was already solid. 🔸 Weeks delaying a project launch because it wasn't "just right." Sound familiar? This perfectionism became more than just a pesky habit. It was killing his productivity. Blocking his business growth. Draining his confidence. When Alex came to me, we re-established one essential truth: Perfectionism isn't a quest for excellence. It's a shield against the fear of failure. So, here's how we turned things around:  Embraced "Good Enough" We redefined success. Instead of aiming for perfection, Alex started aiming for completion. Done is better than perfect when perfect never gets done.  Set Realistic Time Limits We implemented strict time blocks for tasks. If an email typically took 2 hours, we cut it down to 30 minutes. Deadlines help curb the endless tweaking.  Adopted the MVP Mindset Alex began launching Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) to gather real-world feedback instead of endlessly refining in isolation. We extended this to Minimum Viable everything.  Shifted Focus to Action over Analysis We prioritized action. Every day, Alex committed to completing one important task, no matter how imperfect. And guess what happened? ✨ Alex became wayyyyy more productive. Smashing through 3 projects in 3 weeks. ✨ His business began growing. Clients were impressed with the swift delivery. ✨ He grew in confidence. Each completed task built momentum, reducing the fear that had held him back. The Lesson? Perfectionism is the enemy of progress. It keeps you stuck, convincing you that you're just one tweak away from success when really, you're postponing the inevitable. P.S. Tired of letting perfectionism hold you back? Join my upcoming workshop (totally free) where I'll teach you how to break free from the perfectionism trap and supercharge your productivity. Let's conquer this together: https://lnkd.in/g78HySzC You're capable of greatness—even if it's not perfect. ................................ Follow me Ian Tenenbaum #ADHDcoach #IanTenenbaum #founders