Progress Over Perfection: The Mindset Shift Every Leader Needs

Perfectionism might seem like a strength, but it often leaves you feeling stuck, stressed, and never quite “enough.” It pushes you to chase impossible standards and second-guess your every move, draining your energy and creativity. The truth is that perfection isn’t the goal, progress is. By learning to quiet that inner critic and let go of unrealistic expectations, you create space for growth, confidence, and genuine joy in what you do.

Notice when your brain defaults to “all or nothing”

1. Question unrealistic standards. Are they helping or harming”?
2. Catch critical self-talk and name it without judgment.
3. Replace harsh thoughts with calm, compassionate ones.
4. Do a brain dump. Unfiltered thoughts clear mental clutter.
5.  Repetition rewires, small shifts create lasting change.

Perfection stunts creativity but processing frees it. Here’s how to do a brain dump that does just that. I often talk about brain-dumping and for good reason. When you brain dump it reduces mental clutter, encourages honest reflection, boosts creativity, strengthens self-awareness and gives you room to stop reacting and start responding.

When doing a brain dump I prefer using a blank piece of paper. Pick a quiet spot where your flow won’t be interrupted. Transfer all your cluttered thoughts, feelings, ideas, stressors etcetera onto the paper without worrying about structure or perfection.

A simple brain dump for perfectionist thinking:

Let your thoughts spill onto the page. Perfection stunts creativity but processing frees it. That means no editing, no structure and no pressure during this brain dump. Just raw real honesty.

Use that brain dump paper to explore, ask yourself:

• Where in my personal life (perhaps as a parent, partner, child or friend) do I hold myself to impossible standards?
• In my professional life am I expecting flawlessness from my coworkers, my boss or myself?
• When I don’t meet those internal expectations… how do I feel? What does my inner dialogue sound like?

Use that brain dump paper to explore, think about:

• The expectations you place on yourself and others.
• How you react when those expectations are not met.
• What kindness and compassion might sound like if you turned it inward.
• How you might “flip” your commonly used internal words or phrases from negative to positive.

By doing this you are doing more than just reflecting, you are rewiring your brain. Take your brain and inner thoughts from expecting and falling short of perfection to being self-aware, having empathy and a healthier emotional tone, one thought at a time.

- Julie "Brain Lady" Anderson