Developing a Resilient Mindset

Breaking the Rumination Cycle & Moving Away from Perfectionism

As a leader, it’s important to strive for excellence and high standards in your work. However, there is a fine line between healthy striving and the perfection trap that can be detrimental to your success as a leader. Perfectionism can lead to rumination, self-blame, and difficulty delegating tasks to others.

One of the most significant risks of striving for perfection is the stress it can create, which can distract from the big-picture orientation that’s expected in senior positions. It’s essential to learn to delegate, prioritize, and be comfortable taking measured risks to demonstrate your readiness to move forward.

It’s also crucial to understand that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Instead of dwelling on your failures, learn from them and move on. Interruption and distraction are the most effective ways of putting a brake on rumination.

As a leader, it’s important to lead by example and set the tone for your team. It’s essential to develop a healthy perfectionist attitude and have high standards while learning not to be controlling. Noticing details is important, but consider them as part of a larger context with a high level of tolerance for other people.

Delegation becomes more critical at higher levels with more people to manage. It’s essential to trust your team members and their abilities and give them the opportunity to grow and learn.

In conclusion, striving for perfection can be detrimental to your success as a leader. It’s essential to develop a healthy perfectionist attitude and learn to delegate, prioritize, and be comfortable taking measured risks. Remember that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process, and interruption and distraction are the most effective ways of putting a brake on rumination. As a leader, lead by example and set the tone for your team. Trust your team members and their abilities and give them the opportunity to grow and learn.