Perfectionism Is a Thief, and It’s Getting Worse


Hi Reader,

Perfectionism isn’t some quirky personality trait. It’s a thief. It sneaks in, steals your time, drains your joy, and convinces you it’s doing you a favor. And here’s the kicker: research shows that perfectionist tendencies are on the rise. So whether you identify with perfectionism personally or not, you should educate yourself about it because it is highly likely that you will find yourself grappling with perfectionist tendencies in your life, even if they aren’t your own.

The Rise of Perfectionism

A massive study spanning 40,000 college students found that rates of perfectionism have shot up over the last three decades. Today’s young adults are 33% more likely to set impossibly high standards for themselves, and 10% more likely to believe others demand perfection from them compared to students in the 1980s (Curran & Hill, 2019).

Translation: the thief isn’t slowing down. It’s scaling operations. And it is impacting individual mental health, organizational culture, and productivity.


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🛠 FREE Upcoming Webinar:

Who here has a complicated relationship with getting it right? 🙋‍♀️
Maybe you triple-check every email. Maybe you stall on projects because they’re not quite “perfect” yet. Or maybe you’ve got that sneaky inner critic whispering, “you could’ve done better.”

If that sounds familiar, you’re in good company. Perfectionism isn’t a personality trait—it’s a survival strategy. And the good news? You can learn new ones.

That’s exactly what we’ll explore on Wednesday, September 17th in a FREE webinar hosted by the amazing crew at Terryberry.

👉 Come hang out, laugh at our shared neuroses, and walk away with tools to ease the grip of perfectionism.

Register HERE


💡 How about some Deeper Insights:

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The Human Solution

Leadership isn’t just a title. It’s a skill. And too often, managers are promoted for their individual contributions—then left to figure out leadership on their own. That’s a recipe for burnout, discomfort, and a whole lot of stress. At The Human Solution, we believe management is a professional skill set in its own right. And if you want to build high-performing teams and create a culture that thrives, your managers need the right tools—not just instincts.

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