Perfectionism. What is good enough?

In our first podcast episode of 2020, our own Dr. Russell Thackeray talks about perfectionism, perfectionists, and how a lack of understanding of ‘what is good enough,’ can lead to lengthy procrastination and end with unsatisfactory results.

Dr. Thackeray talks about how an acceptable level of perfectionism can be seen as a good thing, but also how perfectionists can be seen as difficult to manage. They often feel that ‘if you can’t do it perfectly then why bother?’ and this can also lead to a lack of satisfaction because they think things can always be done better or improved on.

Dr. Thackeray also talks about how perfectionists often have low self esteem, are self critical and exhausted, anxious and stressed simply because of their fear of ‘not getting it right’, the management challenges of  working with perfectionists and some of the measures that can be put in place to ensure better working and personal relationships.

The fact is we need perfectionists. Without them we wouldn't get far but too many or them mean we simply wouldn't get anywhere.