How the pressure for perfection impacts professional development
You don’t need to be exceptional to progress and do well.
“I could have done better,” said an inner voice during those distant college days. Persistent, this voice grew louder during the early professional experiences and didn’t quiet even after the hard-won achievement of a leadership position. It’s no wonder: in a highly competitive environment, every effort seems insufficient compared to exceptional talents.
Though illustrative, this scene is a reality for a growing number of professionals who, aiming for grand performances, fall into the traps of perfectionism. According to Thomas Curran, a researcher at the London School of Business and one of the leading experts on the topic, there has been a 40% increase in socially prescribed perfectionism over the past 30 years—where individuals are excessively vigilant about their performance, especially in comparison to others.
Despite the rise in perfectionism, studies do not suggest it is linked to improvements in professional development or company results, as recent research from York St. John and Bath Universities in the UK confirms. According to the data, the pressure for perfection is not driving success; on the contrary, it’s contributing to high rates of mental illness, stress, anxiety, and depression.
The fear of not appearing perfect
Even though the idea of perfectionism has been debated, many professional environments not only accept it but also consider it positive. It’s still very common for job candidates to cite it as a self-compliment disguised as a flaw (no matter how cliché that may sound). This fact is explained by historical factors: for a long time, we associated perfectionism with high standards of delivery, motivation, and discipline. But it’s important to understand that these characteristics differ from perfectionism for a simple reason: they are achievable.
Perfectionism, however, does not set high standards. It sets unrealistic standards—it sees failure to achieve a goal, even one that was practically impossible, as a sign of weakness in various aspects of life. This condition leads many people to give up on their goals, prevents them from creating, from trying something different because the fear of not appearing perfect is far greater than the desire to try.
The origin
There are several studies that link perfectionism to excessive demands in childhood, leading to tension, fear of disapproval, and limited creativity. According to British research, this phenomenon has grown significantly in recent years—today’s university students are much more prone to perfectionism than those of the 1990s and 2000s.
Further studies suggest that this culture of perfectionism in childhood can be understood as a reflection of the excessive demands that parents place on themselves, striving to achieve more and more. When the idea of success is based on accomplishments, failure is overemphasized and, in many cases, deemed unacceptable.
The need for social approval
The growth of devotion to exceptional performances is also explained by the rise and excessive use of social media. According to Hootsuite and We Are Social, Brazil is the 3rd highest consumer of social media worldwide, averaging 3 hours and 41 minutes per day. Even though we know the perfect life portrayed on social media doesn’t exist, many people still judge their own worth based on comparisons or the number of likes a colleague receives.
The need for social approval is not new. On the contrary, it has always existed. The difference lies in the magnitude that this pressure to appear perfect has taken with the excessive use of social media. According to the same research, the presence in virtual environments has generated feelings of inadequacy and anxiety, leading many people to consider themselves not good enough—extending beyond physical appearance to professional performances, for example.
Women face more pressure for perfection
The pressure for aesthetic perfection, affecting over 70% of women, echoes across various social roles for women. They are expected to be caring, understanding, and dedicated in every task they undertake in their numerous work roles. Not surprisingly, perfectionism and the need for women to do much more and better are ingrained not only in women’s minds but also in many work environments and at home.
This is evident as women face more barriers to reaching leadership positions—not just in the company but also in their family routines. They are more often tested and questioned about their competence, lead in the rates of microaggressions (such as being silenced or embarrassed), and face wage disparities (men earn 25% more on average). These factors help explain why women occupy only 29% of leadership positions in Brazilian companies, according to the National Confederation of Industry (CNI).
Great achievements are the exception
It’s important to treat grand accomplishments as they are: exceptions. Despite the extraordinary performances you may have seen on LinkedIn, this is not the reality for the vast majority, nor is it a prerequisite for professional and personal growth. Perfection, as we’ve clarified in this article, is inhuman and unattainable. People fail, have ups and downs, and do not always exceed expectations.
The fear of making mistakes, or not seeming good enough, cannot outweigh the desire to try—this is the conclusion of the various studies used in this article. Instead of focusing on what isn’t pleasing, invest time in identifying and developing your strengths. Understanding your potential and dedicating yourself to nurturing each one of them is one of the safest ways to protect against depression and anxiety. By adopting this new attitude, that inner voice that insists on bringing you down will gradually give way to thoughts of encouragement, pride, and self-confidence.
