Hey Reader,
We’ve all been there...surrounded by sticky notes, half-done projects, and that nagging voice in our heads telling us it has to be perfect.
In our latest episode of the Leaderish: leadership lessons straight up podcast, we sat down with productivity expert Cindy Sullivan, founder of CB Sullivan Consulting and Organizing, to talk about the two big P-words holding many of us back: perfectionism and procrastination. She’s spent over 20 years helping professionals reclaim their time and focus on what really matters, and trust us, this extended episode is packed with gold.
You can take Cindy’s free assessment right here to find out where you might be stuck. Both Doris and I did, and it was spot on.
Perfectionism: The Pretty Trap
We often mistake perfectionism for excellence. But as Cindy put it, “Perfectionism doesn’t make you feel perfect. It makes you feel inadequate.” 🔥
So why do we fall into the trap?
- Recognition and validation
- Fear of failure
- Imposter syndrome
- Wanting to stand out
The kicker? That “last 10%” we strive for can take 50% more time, and often doesn’t add much value.
Strategies to beat perfectionism:
- Define “done.” Write out what “done” looks like before you start. This helps fight the urge to overwork something that’s already good enough.
- Set boundaries. Limit the time you’ll spend on a task. Use the project’s true importance (not your anxiety!) as the guide.
- Practice imperfection. Try letting something go before it’s perfect. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s how we grow.
Procrastination: The Energy Thief
On the flip side, procrastination feels like… scrolling instead of starting. Cindy reminded us that procrastination makes “easy things hard and hard things harder.”
Sound familiar?
Whether it’s fear, confusion, or the task just being plain ugh, the delay is often rooted in not knowing how to begin.
Strategies to overcome procrastination:
- The One-Minute Rule: If it takes under a minute, just do it now.
- Chunk it down: Break the task into the very next step.
- Schedule it: Put it on your calendar. Give it a home.
- Start without finishing: Aim to start. Not finish. You’ll often keep going once you begin.
As for the recovering perfectionist in me? I’m painting a clearer picture of “done” before I even start a project. That means taking a moment to actually write down what success looks like for each task, whether that’s drafting three clear options, delivering a rough outline, or just hitting send without another round of edits. When I’m clear on the outcome, I can resist the pull to over-perfect, and I’m finally letting go of that extra 50% effort I don’t need to spend.
🎧 Listen + Act
You can listen to the full episode below or on your favorite podcast platform.
You can now watch Leaderish on YouTube! Can you believe that we’re on YouTube? We can't! 👉 Click here to watch and give us a like, comment, or share to help spread the word. (We’re real humans over here trying to please the algorithm gods!)
And if you’re curious about your own productivity patterns, take Cindy’s free assessment at https://cbsullivanconsulting.com/. She’s even offering complimentary sessions to review your results, so don’t miss out!
✨ What resonated with you?
Are you more of a perfectionist or a procrastinator? Or both? I love to hear your biggest takeaway.
Until next time…
Cheers,
Regina
|
|
A Little Bit About Regina
I'm Regina Taute (say Howdy Taute and you've pronounced it right) a seasoned talent leader with experience in leadership and organizational development. I started Collective Growth Coaching and Consulting to partner with organizations to develop wildly practical and effective talent strategies. As a credentialed coach and certified in MBTI and Hogan assessments, my passion lies in unlocking potential and driving sustainable growth by helping individuals and teams thrive in today’s evolving business world.
It would be my honor to join you for a complimentary 30-minute coaching session to help solve a current challenge with wildly practical solutions or to meet with you one-on-one to chat and get to know you.
|
