Have you ever wondered the impact of your perfectionism on performance?
I'd like to tell you about my 'Why' in becoming so passionate about helping professionals elevate their performance.
The world has a funny way of pushing you into paths. I won a Facebook contest and could choose a 1/2-day group session or a one on one coaching session. I choose the one on one session as I am conditioned for coaching. My intention was to grow from coaching, but I had no idea what I was about to discover. And (know now) subconsciously believed I could breeze through it.
For the coaching session all I needed to do is show up, be honest and vulnerable, discover and choose how I will move forward. EASY I thought.
WRONG! What came out of this session with Ricky Goodall was a flood (I mean literally a flood) of emotion that my perfectionism was a result of feeling like I am not enough. I am not smart enough, experienced enough or brave enough.
Let me back up. Throughout my career I've always done well, finding ways to make it to the next corporate step but feeling small along the way. I'd do one of two things: 1) avoid and delegate; or 2) often time take personal time to perfect the report, the program or strategy.
I'd go out of my way to help other leader's successes instead of focusing on my own success.
After self discovery, and responding to some really hard questions: it boils down to; am I enough and what does that have to do with performance, you ask?
EVERYTHING! Working through my career, I was sarcastic (which many found funny), and wore a corporate veneer while letting others take the limelight because I always told myself it wasn't important to me. But that was a fib. It was a defense mechanism to navigate through corporate worlds from fabulous bosses to the bosses that shouldn't be bosses.
It gave me an out from things that may intimidate me or challenge me in a good way.
As an entrepreneur, now, those defense mechanisms are stunting me, come to find out. I've read so many books and articles and follow the Gary Vee's, Simon Serik's, etc. that you do not have to be perfect but you do have to put yourself out there.
My gap was always things like: someone else has talked about it, someone else is the subject matter expert or someone else says it so much better.
My own realization: You do not have to be perfect and you do not have to be the first to the mark, because no one will say it how you do. Perfectionism and avoidance are red flags sometimes disguised as being too busy.
My defense mechanisms are what drive my passion to help others grow their performance. Now, however, I have a different lens, a developing lens that says I can play 'big' AND help others.
I do not have to downplay myself to help lift others. I can sit with them, in their communication language and help them elevate their performance from within.
I'd enjoy sharing more of my learning opportunities with you! Feel free to subscribe to Intuity Performance for more great performance, coaching and facilitation moments!
Contact us for your complimentary consultation.