This text is based on an article on the Management Today website.
Unrealistic expectations
The most important and obvious problem with a manager who is prone to perfectionism is their unrealistic expectations. Such a manager assumes subordinates will not make mistakes, will always be 100% committed and always achieve maximum success. However, the reality is often different and these exaggerated expectations and excessively ambitious plans tend to demotivate and frustrate workers, killing their commitment and productivity.
Micromanagement
The perfectionist manager wants to be in control. They cannot bear the idea of anything happening without their supervision. Therefore, they tend to micromanage their subordinates, often helping to create an unhealthy, even toxic work environment.
Zero tolerance for errors
Well-functioning and innovative teams must have a certain level of tolerance for error. If no one ever makes any mistakes, it means the team is not trying new approaches, facing new challenges, or moving anywhere. A perfectionist is incapable of tolerating mistakes. So if the manager is a perfectionist, all team members will be afraid to make any errors and the team as a whole will thus stagnate.
Ineffective time management
Perfectionists spend a disproportionate amount of time planning, checking and tweaking irrelevant details. Therefore, a team leader with perfectionist tendencies is often unable to organise time effectively even for themselves, let alone for their subordinates.
Risk of burnout
Perfectionism and over-anxiety lead to burnout, in subordinates and in the manager themselves. This is because perfectionists are never satisfied and under permanent stress. And the managers transfer this attitude to their subordinates, which then puts all team members at a higher risk of burnout than people who approach their work with a healthy detachment.
-mm-