What is the opposite of perfection?
What is the opposite of perfection?
I remember attending a series of workshops at university designed to prepare us for job interviews, alongside other self-awareness and workplace readiness skills. At the time, many students dismissed them as a waste of time. But me, being a complete nerd, actually enjoyed those sessions. (Note from PJ: I can confirm, Shinell is a massive nerd.)
One key takeaway was the importance of articulating both your strengths and your weaknesses. We completed countless assessments, received uncomfortable feedback, and learned a lot about our personal contributions. I distinctly remember being encouraged to reframe our weaknesses as developmental areas – or better yet, as potential strengths.
Many students leaned into “perfectionism” as a core strength, often highlighting how it added value in team environments and ensured tasks were completed with meticulous attention to detail. But I’ve always felt there’s another side to that coin. As someone who leans toward perfectionism myself (no comment needed, PJ), I’ve often found it more burdensome than beneficial.
Let me explain:
The relentless pursuit of a perfect outcome can cause us to overlook the process – and the people – who are part of the journey. Striving for a ten out of ten, or even just close to it, can leave you feeling overwhelmed and perpetually dissatisfied. Always striving, always working, always busy dotting I’s and crossing t’s.
I’m not suggesting that aiming to deliver your best isn’t important. Rather, I believe it’s crucial to understand the motivation behind our efforts. That understanding is key to enjoying (and even noticing) the journey.
If you’re wondering whether perfectionism might be driving you, this passage by Dorothy Littell Greco offers some helpful insight:
“To help you discern if [perfectionism] has crept into your life… consider the following questions:
(a) Are you comfortable asking for help or only offering it?
(b) Are you able to receive appropriate criticism without getting defensive?
(c) Do you have a nagging belief that you are falling short of some elusive standard?
(d) Do you harshly critique yourself?
(e) Are you able to experience joy? An absence of joy might be one of the best indicators of perfectionism. It slowly squeezes the joy out of life by reducing creativity, accentuating mistakes, and making us slaves of success.”
So, what’s the alternative?
It’s not about becoming sloppy or lethargic. I believe the shift lies in refocusing our motivation, from inputs and outputs to impact. Focusing on impact means asking whether your tireless efforts are actually moving you, your team, or your family forward. It’s about measuring real-world results. It’s about being effective.
When we adopt this mindset, we clarify expectations and goals. We measure our contributions against those goals – not against other people. We leverage our strengths and the strengths of our teams. We ask for help when needed. We listen to others’ input, knowing they’re trying to help and not hurt.
The alternative to perfectionism is striving for excellence.
Excellence is not just “good enough.” It’s exceptional. It compounds. It inspires. It’s not conditional; you find satisfaction in both the process and the outcome, regardless of recognition or reward. Excellence is intrinsic. It’s something you believe in.
Striving for excellence fosters growth and opens doors to opportunity, even if those opportunities aren’t immediately visible.
So next time you feel disappointed for not meeting some elusive standard, ask yourself: Is it a standard of perfection or a standard of excellence?
If you are having a difficult time trying to calm the monster perfection has created, get in touch. You can reach us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
At PurposeWorks we are all about Making You and Your Work Rock. Our focus is on Organisational Health and Design, Employee Centered Culture, Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. For more information on how we can help you create a work environment that rocks, develop a great team, become an inspiring leader or unlock your personal excellence talk to us at info@purposeworks.co.za.
