You want to reach the pinnacle of excellence at work. You look towards perfecting your work methods. But, most often, you seek to perfect your process and end up compromising on quality and productivity.
Perfectionism doesn’t necessarily get the right results if you do not follow procedures. Balancing quality and productivity is important for a balanced work-life. It is important to know that the zeal for perfectionism doesn’t overwhelm you and make you lose the main goal of efficiency and quality.
Piyali Maity, Clinical Director, Counselling Operations, 1to1help, feels perfectionism often comes from positive intentions like a desire to excel. “A healthy form of perfectionism, i.e. adaptive perfectionism, can drive individuals to achieve excellence without compromising their well-being. But when perfectionism becomes maladaptive perfectionism (overly rigid or self-critical), it can lead to fatigue and burnout.”
She thinks workplace perfectionism can become a double-edged sword. “Perfectionists often spend a lot of time refining a task which reduces efficiency and delays deadlines. Perfectionists often assume that others will adhere to the same high standards they set for themselves and this can create pressure on colleagues, friends, subordinates and also strain working relationships. They may find themselves chasing unrealistic expectations that may lead to developing symptoms of anxiety, depression and chronic stress.”
Chandni Kumar Mehra, Luxury and Fashion Expert, Educator and Brand Strategist, speaks from her observations in the luxury field. “I’ve observed collaborations with renowned artists being stalled for months as brands repeatedly refined minor design elements like logo placements and packaging finishes, ultimately missing the cultural moment when the partnership could have sparked maximum attention. Similarly, often luxury events face last-minute delays due to an overemphasis on perfecting set designs and floral arrangements, which not only escalates costs but also reduces media impact when momentum around the event fades.”
She adds, “I personally feel that while maintaining uncompromising quality is essential in luxury, over-editing risks losing the storytelling power and market relevance that often drives the industry’s success.”
Nazneen Batliwalla, HR Head, SKIL, too speaks about her experiences. “I recall my then-manager, Shabnam Roy, taking a bet on me by hiring me as a Management Trainee. I was clearly not from a top business school—perhaps not as structured or organised in my thought process as others—but she was willing to take a risk on me based on my energy and drive. For that, I am truly grateful. I wasn’t perfect — I made mistakes. The best part, however, was that I was allowed to learn from them, provided I didn’t repeat them. This experience left a lasting positive impression on me. Today, as an HR professional, I focus on their strengths and flaws—a combination I like to call ‘Flawsome’.”
She recently met a student during a campus drive who honestly spoke about English not being his strong point and him working on it. “How many people openly embrace their flaws instead of hiding them? This rare trait and honest admission struck a chord with me. I decided to take a chance on him, just as someone once took a chance on me. At SKIL, we’ve embraced this philosophy wholeheartedly. We focus on individual strengths and acknowledge their flaws. Rather than focusing on individuals alone, we promote teamwork and celebrate each person’s contribution, instead of fixating on what they can’t do. We provide ongoing feedback, paired with actionable advice on how to improve. Ultimately, it’s about fostering a culture of growth, collaboration, and employee happiness. After all, when people feel valued for who they truly are, success naturally follows.”
Here are six ways to keep perfectionism at bay and balance work with quality and productivity.
Realistic goals: There is a real need to set practical goals that can be achieved within a realistic time limit. Good work results in positive results only when done practically in a time frame that allows everyone to think and work without any rush.
Time management: Your work will be productive only when you plan and schedule it right. Managing your time at work keeps your focus optimum and allows you to complete your work without encroaching on your personal time.
Take short breaks: Too much focus without breaks or planning breaks at the wrong negatively impacts work. Instead, plan short breaks at regular intervals to allow your mind and body to freshen up and return to work with a better mind frame and focus.
Check the mistakes: Certain errors hinder work productivity and efficiency. It is time to recognise and improve them so you don’t repeat them. This move will help improve your work quantity and quality.
Teamwork: Work often involves working with other members of your office. Working as a team means delegating the work to team members. It ensures that pressure does not build up on one person and is finished effectively and productively.
Mindfulness and relaxation: To work effectively and efficiently, incorporate relaxation methods and mindfulness into your routine. Include meditation, exercise, or a hobby in your daily routine to relax your mind and get back to work in a better mood.
Perfection in imperfections at work will provide work quality that is resourceful and fruitful.
