The Modern Manager

266: The Truth About Perfectionism (And What To Do About It) with Thomas Curran


Listen Later

Many of us fall into the perfectionist trap. Whether it’s because of strict bosses, high academic standards, or just self-motivation, perfectionism is more common than you’d think. While it’s important and healthy to strive to do our best work, at some point all managers have to acknowledge that people will make mistakes and good enough can truly be good enough.


Today’s guest is Thomas Curran. Thomas 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.


Thomas and I talk about, no surprise, perfectionism. He shares the problems that come from being a perfectionist and working in a perfectionist culture, what’s really driving perfectionist tendencies, how to identify someone struggling with perfectionism, and of course, what to do to manage perfectionist tendencies in yourself and how to help others.

Members of the Modern Manager community get a chance to win 1 of 5 copies of “The Perfection Trap”. 


Get it when you join the Modern Manager community.


Get FREE mini-sketchnotes with the big idea from the week’s episode delivered to your inbox when you subscribe to my weekly email.


Read the related blog article: Stop Perfectionism From Impeding Your Team’s Success


KEEP UP WITH THOMAS

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Perfection-Trap-Embracing-Power-Enough/dp/1982149531

Read the Full Transcript.


Timestamps:

  • 00:00 Intro
  • 02:53 What is perfectionism?
  • 04:20 What are the harms of always striving for perfection?
  • 06:57 A story of unhealthy perfectionism
  • 09:29 How can managers give feedback to perfectionists?
  • 11:02 How to shift out of perfectionism thinking
  • 20:59 Creating a work environment that doesn’t set a perfectionist standard
  • 28:31 A great manager Thomas worked for
  • 30:45 Keeping up with Thomas
  • 31:50 [Extended episode only] Is it true that some aspects of perfectionism lead to success?
  • 39:12 [Extended episode only] What is the link between perfectionism and procrastination?


Get the extended episode by joining The Modern Manager community for just $15 per month. 

[email protected]

instagram.com/mamieks


...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Modern ManagerBy Mamie Kanfer Stewart

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

179 ratings


More shows like The Modern Manager

View all
HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

HBR IdeaCast

242 Listeners

Modern Mentor by QuickAndDirtyTips.com

Modern Mentor

692 Listeners

The Look & Sound of Leadership by Essential Communications - Tom Henschel

The Look & Sound of Leadership

1,160 Listeners

Coaching for Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

Coaching for Leaders

1,457 Listeners

Negotiate Anything by Kwame Christian Esq., M.A.

Negotiate Anything

649 Listeners

How to Be Awesome at Your Job by How to be Awesome at Your Job

How to Be Awesome at Your Job

1,043 Listeners

Radical Candor: Communication at Work by Kim Scott, Jason Rosoff & Amy Sandler

Radical Candor: Communication at Work

714 Listeners

Women at Work by Harvard Business Review

Women at Work

1,408 Listeners

Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style by Laura Camacho

Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

72 Listeners

Career Contessa by Career Contessa

Career Contessa

455 Listeners

No Bullsh!t Leadership by Martin G Moore

No Bullsh!t Leadership

117 Listeners

The Anxious Achiever by Morra Aarons-Mele

The Anxious Achiever

572 Listeners

Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

Coaching Real Leaders

643 Listeners

HBR On Strategy by Harvard Business Review

HBR On Strategy

80 Listeners

HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

HBR On Leadership

142 Listeners