This is a summary of “Leading Differently: How to Decenter Perfectionism in Remote Working and Learning,” originally posted on Transcend’s blog.
With more organizations going virtual (in some cases, doing so overnight), leaders are pushed to build strong and trusting remote cultures. In the midst of this rapid transition, it can be very tempting to fall into perfectionism as a way to maintain a sense of control in an otherwise uncontrollable situation.
But it’s important to remember that perfectionism does not equal excellence. Though many will exert the importance of reaching for excellence, perfectionism is about a deep-seated need to do whatever it takes to be accepted and well-regarded, and often goes hand-in-hand with shame – not necessarily excellence. Perfectionistic cultures breed fear of losing respect and self-deprecating thoughts (e.g., ‘I’m not good enough, why couldn’t I…”). As Brené Brown has said, “When perfectionism is driving, shame is always riding shotgun – and fear is the annoying backseat driver.”
And during a time of crisis, perfectionism can be especially damaging to individuals and organizations. To avoid this pitfall, a group of remote organizations gathered some of our lessons learned about decentering perfectionism (and centering your values while maintaining a commitment to high-quality work):
Find more in the original post here.
