Worklife with Adam Grant

Breaking Up with Perfectionism

133 snips
May 3, 2022
Thomas Curran, a psychologist at the London School of Economics, dives deep into the rising trend of perfectionism and its detrimental effects on mental health. He shares eye-opening insights on how perfectionism fuels anxiety and burnout, particularly among youth. Adam and Thomas discuss the importance of embracing failure and fostering environments that prioritize growth over flawless execution. They introduce the 'Church of Fail,' a concept that celebrates vulnerability and learning from mistakes, revealing how redefining success can lead to healthier and more productive workplaces.
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ANECDOTE

Grant's Balking

  • Adam Grant frequently balked during diving practice, restarting dives when they weren't perfect.
  • This stemmed from his perfectionism, hindering his progress in the sport.
INSIGHT

Excellence vs. Perfectionism

  • Perfectionism is different from striving for excellence: one seeks flawlessness, the other high quality.
  • Grant learned to move from perfectionism to excellence through diving.
INSIGHT

Perfectionism's Roots

  • Perfectionism stems from a feeling of being flawed and needing to be fixed.
  • It creates anxiety and prevents risk-taking, hindering long-term success.
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