Why Embracing Imperfection is the Key to Leadership Success
“I am so tired of trying to be what everyone wants me to be. When will it end?”
That was the email that jolted me awake this morning. The sender? A frustrated business leader, reacting to a recent post I shared: “You’re allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress simultaneously.”
Wow. That struck a nerve. My inbox lit up with messages like:
“Connie, NO ONE likes it when I’m a work in progress.”
“If I’m never perfect, who will take me seriously?”
“How do you keep it all together when you’re a hot mess deep down?”
Let’s get real. When will the pressure end? When will people stop expecting us to be flawless, always on, always perfect? The truth? It won’t.
As long as we work with and lead other people, there will always be expectations, pressures, and opinions—some helpful, some downright exhausting. But here’s the game-changer: It only becomes unbearable when we try to meet everyone else’s expectations instead of setting our own.
The Perfection Trap: Why Leaders Need to Let It Go
Perfection is overrated. Exhausting. And, frankly, impossible. I’ve worked with countless professionals, entrepreneurs, and executives who chase perfection—and you know what? It doesn’t make them any happier or more successful. It just makes them tired, anxious, and always feeling like they’re falling short.
Leaders, take note: Perfectionism kills creativity. It stifles innovation. And worst of all, it creates a toxic work culture where your team feels afraid to take risks, make mistakes, or think outside the box. And in today’s fast-paced, ever-changing business world? That’s a death sentence for growth.
The Power of Being a Work in Progress
Instead of demanding perfection from yourself (or your team), embrace the work in progress mindset. Here’s why it works:
- It fosters continuous learning and adaptation.
- It builds resilience and confidence.
- It encourages innovation and fresh ideas.
- It creates a workplace where people feel safe to experiment, take risks, and improve.
Actionable Steps to Motivate Your Team (and Yourself!)
1. Set the Example: Show Your Growth
Your team watches you. If you embrace learning, admit mistakes, and try new things, they will too. Be transparent about your own growth—share what you’re working on improving. It humanizes you and builds trust.
2. Encourage Experimentation Over Perfection
Want a team that takes initiative? Give them room to test ideas without fear of failure. Praise effort, not just outcomes. The companies that thrive are the ones willing to innovate, pivot, and embrace new strategies.
3. Remove the Fear of Failure
Create a culture where setbacks aren’t career-ending, but learning experiences. When someone makes a mistake, instead of asking, “Why did this happen?” ask, “What did we learn?”
4. Define Success in a New Way
Instead of striving for perfection, set progress-based goals. What’s the next step? What small improvement can be made today? Recognize and celebrate forward movement, not just end results.
5. Give Your Team Permission to Be Themselves
The best teams aren’t filled with carbon-copy employees who think, act, and perform the same way. Encourage individuality, creativity, and authenticity. When people feel valued for who they are, they bring their best work forward.
Final Thoughts: Leading with Impact
You, as a leader, have the power to create a culture where progress is celebrated, perfection is abandoned, and innovation thrives. That’s where real motivation happens. That’s where engagement soars. That’s where businesses crush the competition.
Embrace the work in progress mindset—for yourself and your team. Because that’s where the magic happens.
Recommended reading: Quit Trying to Make Everyone Happy
Got questions? Let’s talk. Let’s get your team FIRED UP, inspire bold leadership, and shake things up at your next event—click here to start making it happen.
