Deep Dive
What are the three types of perfectionism identified by Ellen Hendriksen?
The three types of perfectionism are self-oriented perfectionism (being hard on oneself), other-oriented perfectionism (being hard on others), and socially prescribed perfectionism (expecting others to be hard on oneself). Socially prescribed perfectionism has seen the most significant rise, especially since 2005.
Why does Ellen Hendriksen describe perfectionism as a 'silent epidemic'?
Perfectionism is often not explicitly identified; instead, people express feelings of failure, falling behind, or not doing things well. It’s a misnomer because it’s less about striving for perfection and more about never feeling good enough. It’s not a clinical diagnosis but is linked to conditions like social anxiety, OCD, and depression.
How does perfectionism affect career growth according to Ellen Hendriksen?
Perfectionism can hinder career growth by causing individuals to avoid mistakes, which in turn prevents them from learning new skills or taking risks. This leads to taking only safe risks, such as improving a known skill slightly, rather than pursuing new challenges that could lead to significant growth.
What is the difference between healthy and unhealthy perfectionism?
Healthy perfectionism involves striving for excellence, having high standards, and working hard for the sake of the work itself. Unhealthy perfectionism, or clinical perfectionism, occurs when individuals conflate their self-worth with their performance, leading to over-evaluation and basing self-esteem on meeting personally demanding standards.
How did Walt Disney and Fred Rogers differ in their approaches to perfectionism?
Walt Disney exhibited over-evaluation, tying his self-worth to his work and often redoing tasks to achieve flawlessness. Fred Rogers, while also having high standards, embraced flexibility and collaboration, turning mistakes into teaching moments and trusting his team and audience to roll with imperfections.
What is the long-term impact of perfectionism on individuals?
Perfectionists often burn out as they age because they set unrealistic standards and frequently fail to meet them, leading to feelings of failure. This can result in decreased diligence, instability, and increased susceptibility to disorders like depression, OCD, and social anxiety.
How can managers help employees who struggle with perfectionism?
Managers can model healthy behavior by showing vulnerability, admitting mistakes, and setting boundaries like limiting work hours. Instead of telling employees to lower standards, they can encourage questioning whether additional effort (e.g., a fifth draft) is truly necessary. Focus feedback on the work rather than the individual.
What role does over-evaluation play in perfectionism?
Over-evaluation occurs when individuals conflate their self-worth with their performance, leading to a belief that 'I did good means I am good.' This results in setting the bar for adequacy at flawless, making mistakes feel catastrophic and leading to all-or-nothing thinking.
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