People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast

PPP 396 | Do You Tend to Be a Perfectionist? Embracing the Power of Good Enough, with author Thomas Curran

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Nov 1, 2023

Thomas Curran, the author of 'The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough,' challenges the notion of perfectionism and its negative impacts on mental health and relationships. The podcast explores the nature of perfectionism, its dimensions and influence on self-esteem and performance. It also delves into socially prescribed perfectionism, the pitfalls of social media, personal strategies to combat perfectionism, and the relation of perfectionistic thinking to agile project management. The importance of embracing 'good enough' is emphasized.

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INSIGHT

Perfectionism Comes From Deficit

Perfectionism stems from a sense of lack, not merely high standards.
It operates as a defensive strategy to manage shame and prove worth to others.

INSIGHT

Perfectionism Is Socially Driven

Perfectionism is intensely relational because it seeks approval and fear of judgment.
Rejection or indifference shatters perfectionists' self-esteem and accelerates the striving cycle.

INSIGHT

Two Internal-External Perfection Types

Self-oriented perfectionism is driven by an internal idealized self-image.
Other-oriented perfectionism projects unrealistic standards onto others and damages relationships.

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Stop Saying You're a Perfectionist

There's a classic question that is often asked somewhere during a job interview: "So, what's your biggest weakness?" Perhaps you've been asked that somewhere along your career journey.

My favorite answer to that is from Michael Scott in the television show The Office: "I work too hard, I care too much, and sometimes I can be too invested in my job." Perfect, right?

Oh wait. Did I say Perfect? I did. Because in a sense, the answer that Michael gave there is what a lot of us admit to being one of our biggest weaknesses: we struggle with being a perfectionist. It's like one of those flaws that, when you admit it, people will knowingly tilt their head, nod, and say, "Yeah, I understand. Me too." It's a socially accepted flaw that we might even think has some hidden advantages in driving us to higher performance.

But if you think that, you would be wrong--at least about the higher performance part. I know that because I read Thomas Curran's new book The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough. It's a book that will challenge your thinking about perfectionism and, if you let it, begin to free you from the ways that it might be hurting you, your mental health, your relationships, and your performance far more than you realize.

You can learn more about Thomas and his work at ThomCurran.com/.

For more on this topic, check out:

Episode 315, with Ethan Kross about his book Chatter.

Gift a Loved One a Head Start With Their Career

Do you know someone who is in college or maybe recently graduated?

My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, "So, what's the plan?" When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea!

I bring this up because I want you to check out our new course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertainty. It's a career guide for people who don't know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course.

Whether you are wondering about the next steps in your career or it's a son or daughter and you'd like to give them a head start as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks!

Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: On Point by Steven OBrien Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11694-on-point License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Synthiemania by Frank Schroeter Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11809-synthiemania License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license