#1 enemy of productivity?

What is the #1 enemy of productivity?  

Facebook?  

Multi-tasking?  

Stress?

Distractions?  

It could be any of those but I often find the number #1 enemy for many clients is perfectionism. Seriously. Why? Because if you feel you need to do something perfectly, if you hold yourself against that impossibly high standard, often you don’t even start the project.  And its hard to be productive and finish a project when you never actually started it.  

What might you do instead?

Research

Take a class or webinar

Read a book

Worry and anticipate failure

Do something that you know you can do perfectly like… fold laundry

Stress out over your lack of progress

Take a nap

Wake up and research some more

Perfectionism is often masked as procrastination.  This is deceiving because if you think your problem is procrastination, you will focus on learning many time hacks that won’t work for you. Or they will work for a while but you still won’t accomplish your goal. You may feel  you are hopeless because you can’t seem to get anything done.  Ultimately you might just succumb to the pressure and give up.

What is the answer?

• Change your mindset.  Instead of setting a goal of doing something perfectly, set a goal of taking imperfect action.  Give yourself permission to miss the mark.  After all, everything is research and development.  You can evaluate mistakes and  learn from them.  Action trumps inaction.
• Recognize that perfectionism is at it’s heart, not an effort to do your best but to please others.  In her book, the Gifts of Imperfection, Brene Brown writes,  “Perfectionism is the belief that if we live perfect, look perfect and act perfect, we can minimize or avoid the pain of blame, judgment, and shame.  It’s a shield.  Perfectionism is a twenty-ton shield that we lug around thinking it will protect us when, in fact it’s the thing that’s really preventing us from taking flight.”

Perfectionism can be at the root of failing to accomplish our dreams because of a fear of making mistakes and disappointing others.  Instead challenge yourself to consider your actions as research and development.  Then analyze your results with compassion.

 

Dream Achiever Coaching is well worth the time and money. Lynne is a wonderful coach!  She offers priceless advice, encouragement, and support. She has personally helped reel me in to focus my time and energy appropriately and has also helped me achieve my dream of having an enjoyable, fulfilling, and successful business.  ~Amy Molley,  www.sensiblesensoryspaces.com/

Need to take a look at goal setting and productivity?  Let’s talk.  

Sign up for a complimentary coaching call here:  https://bookme.name/dreamachiever