In my role as a coach to inspiring entrepreneurs and startup leaders, I hear so often the following contrary statements:

“I’m a perfectionist. That’s what it takes to make great things happen 🤩!”

“I’ve wasted so much time because I’m such a perfectionist 😫!”

When it comes to perfectionism, here are a few things to keep in mind:

💡 You’re not a perfectionist! You have an Inner Perfectionist who can be harnessed and deployed when it serves you the most.

💡 Striving for perfection can lead to positive outcomes as long as (a) we don’t expect ourselves and others to want to do everything perfectly and (b) we can cope with things not being perfect even when we aimed for that.

A quote to keep in mind

“Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it.”

– Salvador Dali

How to harness your Inner Perfectionist

Start by giving it a face, a voice and a name.

If you were to think of your Inner Perfectionist as a version of you, what would they look like? Perhaps think of their physique, their posture, their way of dressing, their tone of voice and their gaze. Imagine them in detail and say “Hi” to them. Now give them a name.

Once you have personalised them, you’ll find it easier to self-distance yourself from them – to see them merely as a member of your internal exec team, rather than who you are.

Now ask yourself:

💡 How and when does my Inner Perfectionist serve me?

💡 How and when does my Inner Perfectionist not serve me?

As you go through your week, keep an eye for your Inner Perfectionist popping up – how well are they serving you in this situation?