Let’s talk about perfectionism. As leaders, you’re wired to hit every mark, meet every goal, and make sure everything runs like clockwork. It’s your thing. But here’s the catch: trying to get it “just right” every time? That’s a fast track to burnout.
We’ve all been there. A project stalls. A team member misses a deadline. The plan doesn’t go as expected. And suddenly, it feels like a personal failure. Like maybe you’re not “doing it right.” Before you know it, work becomes an endless checklist. You’re so focused on getting every detail perfect, you lose sight of what matters.
And the pressure to get it “right” is real. The U.S. Surgeon General recently highlighted just how deeply burnout is impacting people in the workforce, especially parents juggling work and home. Leaders are feeling it, too. You’re at the front of the pack, so when you stumble, it hits hard.
But here’s what I’ve learned: trusting intuition is where the magic happens. As Seth Godin puts it, “Intuition is simply a theory we haven’t yet put into words. Once we write down and share our intuition, it becomes more resilient, focused, and useful to others.” Your intuition? It’s your unspoken expertise, built over years of experience. It’s often got the answer before any spreadsheet or action plan. But you’re so busy trying to follow every step perfectly that you ignore it.
Think about it. How often do you let the obsession with checking boxes turn leadership into a never-ending to-do list? It’s like parenting—if you’re so focused on counting every vegetable or tracking every milestone, you end up missing out on the real moments with your kids. The same goes for work. You get so bogged down with managing the details, you lose sight of the bigger picture.
So, here’s the shift: put perfection on the back burner. Rely on that intuition. Use it to guide tough calls, innovate, and connect with your team, and your family. Leaning into what you already know makes you more present, more decisive, and honestly, a better leader, and parent.
Embrace your instincts. Sharpen them. Let go of needing to have it all lined up perfectly. Trusting yourself more? It does wonders for your leadership—and sets the example your team (and family) needs.