Overcome Perfectionism at Work: Glassdoor.com’s Career Advice
How to prioritize your mental health and overcome perfectionism at work
Perfectionist tendencies at work can often be linked to anxiety.
A conversation with an author and podcast host who's an expert on the topic dives into how it shows up at work.
Learn more about what to do about it and how you can find support.
If you’ve ever felt yourself tensing up while staring down a deadline or important meeting, you’re not alone. According to award-winning author and podcast host Morra Aarons-Mele, anxiety is the most common issue affecting mental health at work, and it’s important to have honest conversations about it.
“Data is increasingly showing that work is the biggest driver of most people's mental health," Aarons-Mele explained during a Fishbowl Live discussion of anxiety and perfectionism. “The bad news is that a lot of people say work has a negative effect on their mental health; at the same time, a lot of people find amazing self-efficacy and community and even joy at work. It's complicated.”
In a Q&A, Aarons-Mele explained how perfectionism and anxiety can take a toll on employees, along with strategies for taking care of your mental health.
Responses have been edited for length.
Glassdoor: Your latest book and podcast are called The Anxious Achiever, and you’ve talked about how anxiety can drive perfectionism. How do anxious achiever tendencies tend to show up at work?
Aarons-Mele: The funny thing about anxiety is that it shows up differently in thoughts and behaviors for everyone. A lot of people who feel anxiety will feel it physically: the racing heart and the tight chest. A lot of people tell me they get a tingle when they're anxious. There are common physical symptoms because it is a physical threat response. But, in terms of our thoughts and behaviors, especially at work, it really runs the gamut.
Glassdoor: How does work anxiety differ in those thoughts and behaviors?
Aarons-Mele: Some people, when they're anxious, will stay at work until midnight and make sure that everything is done. Some people will take everything on themselves and refuse to delegate. And then some people who are anxious at work leave. Some people go for a run. We all react differently, but we also have what I call our “greatest hits.” Anxiety is a habit, so we have patterns. What's really helpful is to look at your patterns, look at your greatest hits, and think, “Is this serving me or not?”