• Perfectionism can be a hindrance to workplace productivity, as employees who focus too much on making things perfect waste time and miss deadlines.
• The pursuit of perfection is driven by a fear of failure and can lead to negative personal consequences such as stress, burnout, and sickness.
• Leaders can help their teams focus on meaningful work by setting clear expectations on individual projects and utilizing the 20:80 rule (Pareto Principle).
• Leaders should also model behaviors of self-acceptance and share stories from times when they have failed.
• Reducing the emphasis on perfectionism can improve employee performance, satisfaction, and overall wellbeing in the workplace.

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Perfectionism can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can push individuals to strive for excellence and achieve great things. However, in a workplace setting, perfectionism can be the enemy of productivity. Employees who focus too much on making things perfect can waste time and miss deadlines, negatively impacting the operations of a business. Read on to learn how to spot perfectionism at work and how leaders can help their teams focus their best energy on their most meaningful work.