In the complex environment that forms your world, its context is continually shifting. So, aiming for perfection is futile. Instead, aim for progress, expect mistakes and recognize that you can continually course correct as needed. For high-achievers, prone to perfectionism, egos and desired identities (e.g., of being successful or being “the expert”) can get in the way. To let go of perfectionism, identify and acknowledge your specific core fears that complex issues trigger – “I’ll fail,” “I’ll look bad,” or “I’ll make the wrong decision.” Underlying these fears is an often implicit and unexamined assumption that “if any of these fears come to fruition, I wouldn’t be able to recover from it.”
It’s tempting to oversimplify complex challenges, so that they seem less daunting.
Many high achievers have a bias for action and become quickly frustrated when facing challenges that don’t present an evident solution and clear course of action. Instead of caving to the desire for quick resolution, you better serve yourself to learn to balance your need for action with a disciplined approach to understanding both the core problem and your own biases. For example, hiring a DEI leader at an organization, by itself, is insufficient if more systemic issues like outdated recruiting, promotion, development, and compensation practices go unaddressed.
Get your cohort to kick in their perspectives. Get with winners. Make progress your mantra. And look here for tools that break down obstacles and uncertainty.
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