Anxiety At Work? Reduce Stress, Uncertainty & Boost Mental Health Perfectionism: Why Good Enough Will Reduce Anxiety & Boost Performance
In this enlightening episode of Anxiety at Work, hosts Chester Elton and Adrian Gostick sit down with social psychologist Dr. Thomas Curran to dive deep into the increasing menace of perfectionism.
Key Insights:
- The Perfectionism Epidemic: Today's world, particularly for younger generations, sees a surge in perfectionist tendencies. Influenced by social media, mounting academic pressures, evolving parenting styles, and unstable job scenarios, this mindset is more pervasive than ever.
- Perils of Perfectionism: Contrary to popular belief, perfectionism isn't a performance enhancer. Instead, it's a ticket to anxiety, plummeting self-worth, and an overwhelming urge to procrastinate when challenges arise.
- Steps to Overcome: Navigate through perfectionist inertia with actionable strategies:
- Begin with a 5-minute task to gain momentum.
- Question if your pursuit of flawlessness is truly justified.
- Prioritize by discarding non-critical items from your agenda.
- Extend kindness and compassion to yourself, as a trusted friend would.
Additional Reflection: Leaders who portray an impeccable image send wrong signals. Embracing and admitting imperfections can lead to a culture of understanding rather than blaming.
Thomas Curran is a professor of psychology at the London School of Economics and author of a landmark study that the BBC hailed as “the first to compare perfectionism across generations.” His TED Talk on perfectionism has received more than three million views. His research has been featured in media ranging from the Harvard Business Review to New Scientist to CNN and he has appeared on numerous television and radio programs. Adam Grant calls Curran “the world's leading expert on perfectionism, and Daniel Pink says The Perfection Trap “offers a hopeful beacon and a steady path for anyone struggling to find their footing in a world of impossible standards.”
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Until next week, we hope you find peace & calm in a world that often is a sea of anxiety.
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Your hosts, Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton have spent over two decades helping clients around the world engage their employees on strategy, vision and values. They provide real solutions for leaders looking to manage change, drive innovation and build high performance cultures and teams.
They are authors of award-winning Wall Street Journal & New York Times bestsellers All In, The Carrot Principle, Leading with Gratitude, & Anxiety at Work. Their books have been translated into 30 languages and have sold more than 1.5 million copies.
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