Ditch Perfectionism: How to Lead Boldly and Let Progress Beat Perfect

Perfectionism is a trap.

It’s the invisible leash that keeps high-achieving women overworking, over-preparing, and overthinking—while the system rewards those who take bold, messy action. Research shows that women are more likely than men to struggle with perfectionism, thanks to a culture that demands we prove ourselves at every turn (Flett & Hewitt, 2022).

Here’s the kicker: The corporate world wasn’t designed for perfectionists—it was built for people who make fast, confident moves. A Harvard Business Review study found that men apply for jobs when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, while women wait until they check every box (Mohr, 2014). Perfectionism doesn’t make you stand out—it keeps you stuck.

If you’re like me—a recovering Type A+ overachieving perfectionist—this lesson doesn’t stick easily. We were conditioned to be meticulous, to avoid mistakes at all costs, and to wait until we were "ready." But real leadership isn’t about getting it perfect—it’s about taking action despite imperfection.

Perfectionism in Action

Meet a powerhouse director at a Fortune 500 company - let’s call her Lisa. She spent weeks perfecting a proposal—fine-tuning every detail, refining every data point, rewriting every sentence. Meanwhile, a male colleague threw together a rough version of a similar idea, pitched it in a meeting, and leadership ran with it. Lisa’s perfectionism wasn’t an asset—it was a speed bump. While she polished, others progressed.

This isn’t about working harder. It’s about playing the game smarter.

3 Ways to Ditch Perfectionism and Lead with Confidence

The good news? You can unlearn perfectionism. Try these three tactics.

1. Adopt the "80% Rule": Perfectionism makes you overthink. Instead, use the 80% Rule—if something is 80% ready, it’s good enough to go. Research shows that high performers who let go of perfectionism experience less burnout and greater career satisfaction (Hill et al., 2020). Perfection doesn’t get rewarded—execution does.
   Try This: The next time you’re stuck revising something for the tenth time, stop. Ask yourself: Would this be good enough if I only had five minutes to send it? If the answer is yes, hit send.

2. Make Decisions Faster: Leaders who act quickly (even imperfectly) gain credibility. Research from McKinsey & Company (2021) found that leaders who make decisions swiftly—without waiting for total certainty—are more successful. Waiting for the “perfect” moment? That’s just fear in disguise.
   Try This: Give yourself 24 hours (max) to make decisions that don’t have long-term consequences. The more you practice making fast, confident choices, the easier it gets.

3. Reframe Mistakes as Fuel for Growth: Women often feel like they have to be flawless to be seen as competent. But mistakes? They aren’t proof you don’t belong—they’re proof you’re growing. Brené Brown (2018) calls this the power of vulnerability—owning imperfection makes you a stronger, more relatable leader.
   Try This: Instead of asking “What if I fail?” ask “What will I learn?” Keep a "failure log"—track lessons learned rather than mistakes made. This shifts your mindset from avoiding failure to using it as a growth tool.

Why This Matters

When you ditch perfectionism, you don’t just free up time—you free up power. You stop second-guessing and start leading. You grab opportunities instead of waiting until you feel "ready." And most importantly, you show the next generation of women leaders that progress always beats perfect.

The world isn’t waiting for you to be perfect. It’s waiting for you to be bold.

Now go make a move.

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References

• Flett, G. L., & Hewitt, P. L. (2022). Perfectionism in the workplace: A psychological perspective. American Psychological Association.

• Hill, A. P., Curran, T., & Sarkar, M. (2020). "Perfectionism and burnout in high-achieving professionals: A review and meta-analysis." Journal of Organizational Behavior, 41(7), 659-674.

• McKinsey & Company. (2021). "Women in the workplace 2021: The state of women in corporate America." Retrieved from https://www.mckinsey.com

• Mohr, T. S. (2014). "Why women don’t apply for jobs unless they’re 100% qualified." Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org