We know loads of you will identify as perfectionists - it's one of the most common things our clients tell us about themselves, usually with a mix of pride and frustration. Most perfectionists know they probably need to ease up a bit, but knowing you should dial it back and actually feeling ready to let go are completely different things. The reality is that perfectionism has got you where you are, so the thought of lowering your standards feels risky.

But what if the very thing that helped you climb the ladder is now holding you back from the impact you really want? We explore how perfectionism shows up in leadership roles, why it stops serving you at senior levels, and most importantly - practical strategies to shift from perfectionism to progress without dropping your standards.

Key points from this episode

• Why perfectionism feels useful early in your career but becomes a barrier in leadership roles
• How perfectionist habits create overwork, slow decision-making, and micromanagement tendencies
• The hidden costs of perfectionism - missing strategic work, limiting career progression, and demotivating your team
• Practical strategies including time limits, delegating outcomes not processes, and creating early feedback loops
• Why the "one-touch rule" matters when reviewing delegated work

00:00 Introduction - How perfectionism holds back leadership

01:00 Why perfectionism feels useful and gets rewarded early in careers

03:00 The frustration when "perfect" work doesn't hit the mark for others

06:00 How perfectionism shows up in leadership - overwork and exhaustion

08:00 The impact on pace, agility, and team delegation

10:00 Why perfectionist leaders struggle with delegation and become bottlenecks

13:00 How perfectionism limits capacity for strategic work and career progression

16:00 Strategies for loosening the perfectionist grip

18:00 The mindset shift: risk of imperfection vs risk of perfectionism

20:00 Practical tip 1: Set time limits and stick to them religiously

22:00 Practical tip 2: Delegate the outcome, not the process

24:00 Practical tip 3: Create early feedback loops instead of waiting for the "ta-da" moment

26:00 The one-touch rule for reviewing delegated work

28:00 Closing thoughts and coaching support options

Useful Links

Join The Catalyst Career Club for 50k+ Leaders

Connect with Pam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangan/

Connect with Jacqui on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jagger/

Access the download with 20 strategies to overcome perfectionism as a leader (without lowering your standards)

Interested in working with us?

Get in touch about career or leadership development, outplacement workshops or recruitment support via the Catalyst Careers website

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