Perfectionism: Good Enough Really is Good Enough

I’ll never forget the sinking feeling I had when I saw the expressions on the faces of volunteers after I started redoing a project they had spent hours working on. My intentions were good—I thought I was helping, trying to demonstrate how I wanted things done—but in reality, I deflated their motivation. My obsession with making everything flawless took over, and in the process, I ended up hurting the team.

That experience taught me a hard lesson: perfectionism, while it can push us to do better, can also tear down the morale of others when it’s driven by the wrong motives. I was so fixated on getting everything "right" that I failed to see the value in the work others were contributing. It made me realize that true leadership isn't about achieving perfection—it’s about fostering a space where people can grow and improve through the process.

Being a perfectionist can be exhausting. I had to get comfortable with looking inward and understanding how my own perfectionism was hurting others instead of helping. It wasn’t just about fixing mistakes but recognizing that my constant pursuit of perfection created a sense of dissatisfaction, even when we were successful.

As perfectionists, we tend to be goal-oriented, action-driven, and set high standards for ourselves and others. But I’ve learned that recalibrating those expectations—allowing room for mistakes, creativity, autonomy, and grace—is essential for personal growth and for building a healthy, productive team.

Here are a few lessons I’ve learned along the way:

GRACE: Learn to extend grace to yourself and to your team. Mistakes are inevitable, but they’re also opportunities to grow. We can’t control every outcome, and that’s okay. Focus on doing your best, but understand that unexpected challenges will come, and that’s part of the journey.

CREATIVITY: Encourage creativity, both individually and as a team. Whether it’s through team-building activities, brainstorming sessions, or even picking up a creative hobby, making room for creativity invites new perspectives and ideas. It can refresh your mind and allow for more innovative solutions.

MAKE ROOM: Planning is important, but at some point, you need to give yourself permission to stop planning and make a decision. Set a deadline, trust your instincts, and move forward. Good enough really is good enough. By letting go of the need for things to be perfect, you make room for new opportunities and possibilities you might have missed otherwise.

Perfectionism doesn’t have to be a burden. With self-reflection, you can learn to manage it in a way that fuels growth rather than stifles it. Let’s embrace the process, the imperfections, and the possibilities that come with trusting ourselves and our teams to do their best.

Reflection Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when your desire for perfection may have unintentionally affected the motivation or morale of others. How has your pursuit of perfection impacted your relationships with colleagues or team members? 
    
2. What changes could you make to foster an environment where new ideas and perspectives are encouraged without the pressure for them to be perfect?
    
3. What practical steps can you take to recognize that good enough can still lead to success and opportunities for growth?