Is Perfectionism Undermining Your Confidence?
For many people, the answer is yes. In a recent LinkedIn poll shared with my network, 40% of respondents said their drive to be perfect at work had contributed to feelings of imposter syndrome. Close behind was the pressure to always appear as the “expert.” Imposter syndrome can affect anyone. It is that uneasy belief that everyone else earned their place through talent and hard work, while you somehow arrived there through luck. And it is not only something experienced by those early in their careers. Research from Korn Ferry found that 71% of U.S. CEOs have experienced imposter syndrome at some point. In many ways, feeling slightly out of your depth can be a sign of growth. It often means you are stretching yourself, learning, and stepping beyond your comfort zone. The real problem begins when confidence is damaged by unrealistic expectations of perfection. When we believe we must perform flawlessly at all times, we create standards no one can realistically meet. Research by Dr...