Breaking The Perfectionism Trap

Are you holding yourself—or your team—to an impossible standard? In this episode, Shannon Waller unpacks the real differences between high standards and perfectionism. She also explains how to build a culture of confidence, speed, and accountability so your team can deliver great results, move faster, and actually enjoy the process—without getting stuck chasing an unattainable ideal. Download Episode Transcript Show Notes: Having high standards helps you feel confident and stay clear on what really matters, unlike perfectionism, which can drain your energy and slow you down. Perfectionism usually comes from fear—fear of messing up or not being good enough—while high standards come from caring about great results. Aiming for “really good” instead of “perfect” will help you get more done, faster, and with less stress. The 80% Approach™ is a great way to keep projects moving forward. Instead of trying to do everything yourself or make every detail flawless, take your work to 80% complete and then hand it off so others can add their expertise. It’s an easier, more collaborative way to avoid getting stuck chasing “perfect.” It’s all about teamwork, letting go of control, and trusting that “good and moving forward” beats “perfect and stalled.” When your team shares the workload and plays to their strengths, things flow better and no one hangs on to tasks out of worry. Make your standards clear and explain why they matter. When people understand the purpose, they step up with better quality. Don’t worry if things aren’t perfect; mistakes are just opportunities to learn and improve next time. Perfectionism is often a habit we inherit; choose to shift your mindset to focus on progress, not perfection. Not every task needs your full-on perfectionist energy—save that for what truly matters to you. When you combine high standards with smart teamwork and self-awareness, you create a culture where trust and innovation thrive. Resources: Kolbe A™ Index The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy The 80% Approach by Dan Sullivan Unique Ability® Multiplication By Subtraction by Shannon Waller Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers