The death of perfectionism?

Much has been studied about the dark side of perfectionism. It can be seen as a killer of creativity, it can slow us down, inhibit our growth, and even trap us in endless analysis paralysis. 

It turns out, perfectionism can even kill us.

Of course, there are the positive sides too. Having never been a perfectionist myself, I can readily attest to the value of attention to detail and the endless push for higher quality that I’ve learned from those in my midst. 

But it seems that this is probably not the moment of the perfectionist. And with so much uncertainty in our future – I wonder if perhaps it never will be again.

We’re all still reconciling the great big shock of this (largely) unforeseen global crisis, and the impacts of this situation have broken down many conventions and beliefs that once seemed indelibly fixed into our workplace culture.

But what I’ve seen of late is that the traits we value are shifting to reflect the rising presence of the unknown and unplanned in our lives. 

And, the brands and messages that are thriving today tend to have a few things in common:

• Authenticity

• Connection

• Empathy

In other words, if you are willing and able to acknowledge, in an authentic way, that you do not have the answers and that you are actively trying to find your footing, in many cases you will find that your audiences will respond.

Nobody is expecting perfect anymore, and anyone who appear to be inflexible or completely buttoned up will likely draw more skepticism than admiration.

In my own experience I also have found that this is also an opportune time to connect. People want to talk, human to human, and low-pressure environments are even better. 

So, when I stop looking for ways to sell or grow and just find time to chat, those are the moments that I seem to be building the strongest and deepest relationships. 

And nobody can get through a workday today without exercising empathy. Fortunately for me, a potential client was exceedingly empathetic on a recent Zoom call where my children showed up, half-dressed, and I tried to woo them away by offering marshmallows as incentive. (Didn’t work.)

The reality is that none of us – companies, leaders, start-ups, tech giants – none of us are perfect. Striving for perfection and infallibility may have gotten many brands to where they are, but the values that are increasingly prized today are the exact opposite of perfectionism. 

The demands of this moment are impossible, for all of us, in very different ways. Once we stop trying to convince the world around us that we have it all handled, we will be more likely to weather the storm.

And given the uncharted waters ahead, that’s probably for the best.