Most people want to do their job to the best of their abilities. Then there are perfectionists: Those nitpicky, highly demanding, anal retentive and problematic coworkers who rework their assignments long after everyone else has moved on.

The trouble with having a perfectionist mentality is that it's counterintuitive to productivity because the individual is putting too much time into creating an idealized outcome. The perfectionist is willing to sacrifice quantity over quality. In some situations where attention to detail is top on the list, a bit of perfection may be warranted. However, in the overall scheme of things, finding the right balance between quality and quantity is much more prudent.

The Bigger Picture: Perfection Is Flawed

According to the experts at Science, too often perfectionists are focused on the short term, the immediate, what is right in front of them this minute. Their sights are so set on ensuring the work they produce is perfect that they forget about the bigger picture, the team or company goal. Basically, they get lost in the sauce.

It's not unusual for perfectionists to begin a project months before a deadline and still not finish on time because they're too busy examining and re-examining the details. Projects, which should have a specified time period, seem to go on forever because the work is never quite good enough. Perfectionists have even been known to leave one job or company for another, in hopes of finding a place with higher standards.

The difficulty with this mindset is that perfectionists are unlikely to be happy anywhere except where other perfectionists roam. They see their expectations and goals as reasonable and aren't necessarily sure why others don't feel the same. Put a room full of perfectionists together, and you'll probably never see any results; this only leads to their continued dissatisfaction.

The trouble with the concept of perfection is that it doesn't exist since the perfectionist always feels that what they're doing can somehow be improved. Ultimately, they're never able to reach the pinnacle they seek. Therefore, they consistently fail miserably; when, in fact, if they were to invest the right amount of time and energy into their work, they would turn out high-caliber projects that most of us would find perfectly acceptable.

The End Result

How many times have you sat in on an interview and heard someone say that their biggest flaw, as well as strongest attribute, is that they're a perfectionist? They attempt to balance their need to get it right by explaining that even though they take a little longer, they're sure the effort is worth the wait.
Chances are that the person answering this question is not a true perfectionist; like an alcoholic, a real sufferer doesn't necessarily acknowledge their problem. What true perfectionists don't get is the frustration that's often felt by coworkers - that includes supervisors - who see their delays as irritating.

Because their work never ends, perfectionists may feel overworked and no gratification from a job well done. Add to this the self-imposed stress and strain of their affliction, and perfectionism can cause health problems. If you think you or someone close to you might be a perfectionist, get some help, find a good mentor, and be sure to read our companion article on the subject.