Perfectionism is not the healthy or effective pursuit of excellence

1. © Gladeana McMahon, 2013
WHY PERFECTIONISM AT
WORK DOESN’T PAY
Gladeana McMahon

2. Perfectionism is not the
healthy or effective pursuit
of Excellence
© Gladeana McMahon, 2013

3. Perfectionists tend to
• Worry obsessively
• Spend more time on activities
• Exhibit aggressive behaviour
• Place unrealistic demands on self &
others
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Perfectionists tend to
• Micro manage (control and fear)
• Procrastinate (putting off tasks or
taking more time)
• Avoid situations perceived as
threatening (new tasks or change)

5. In essence
Perfectionists tend to
• Set unrealistic standards unlikely to
be attained
• Never be satisfied as can never attain
the desired outcome
• Become stressed when faced with
failure and disappointment
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6. © Gladeana McMahon, 2013
In essence
Perfectionists tend to
• Be preoccupied with thoughts of fear of
failure and disapproval
• Link mistakes with a lack of self-worth
and ability
• Become defensive and emotional when
faced with an error

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Impact on
Organizations
• Managers can find perfectionists hard
to manage
• Colleagues can find perfectionists
difficult to work with
• Juniors can be at the mercy of
perfectionists

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Impact on
Organizations
• Lack of creativity, especially
important in challenging times
• Loosing talent due to poor work-life
balance
• Risk aversion can hold back much
needed change

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Fairplace and Cass
Business School
Study 2007
• 54 managers
• Talent Tracker 360 tool

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Fairplace and Cass
Business School
Study 2007
Current
• 1,852 respondents from 70
organisations
• 32% being senior managers and
above

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Fairplace and Cass
Business School
Study 2007
Successful leadership qualities
• Open-minded
• Courageous
• Have personal impact
• Empower others

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Fairplace and Cass
Business School
Study 2007
Successful leadership qualities
• Build strong teams
• Are adaptable
• Ability to admit mistakes

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The Technical
Specialist Challenge
• Leaders whose earlier rise has been
based on making the right decision
• Retaining the elements needed to make
good decisions
• The wisdom to know when good is
enough

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Tools for Identifying
Perfectionists
Hogan Development Scale (HDS)
• 11 common dysfunctional dispositions
• Management Derailment
• Alienating colleagues and direct reports
undermines the effectiveness

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Tools for Identifying
Perfectionists
Talent Tracker 360
• Used to capture development needs
• Based on the Cass Study

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Tools for Identifying
Perfectionists
Occupational Personality Questionnaire
(OPQ)
• Low controlling scores = others take
charge
• High controlling scores = take the lead

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Is there an
Alternative?
The Healthy Achiever
• Sets high standards that stretch the
individual
• Enjoys the process as well as the end
product

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Is there an
Alternative?
• Experiences concern about failure and
disapproval but learns and moves on
• Treats mistakes as part of a life long
learning process
• Sees Feedback as constructive

19. © Gladeana McMahon, 2013
Becoming a Healthy
Achiever
• Use of psychometric tools to identify
personal patterns of behaviour
• Coaching focuses on thinking style and
behaviour (e.g. developing a self
enhancing thinking style)

20. Gladeana McMahon
www.gladeanamcmahon.com
www.cognitivebehaviouralcoachingworks.com
© Gladeana McMahon, 2013