Why leaders need to stop seeking perfection to make an impact

When I wrote my first book, I was so fearful of a tiny typo that 700 copies sat in boxes in my apartment for six months gathering dust. I was trapped in what’s referred to as ‘failure-avoiding’ perfectionism. Research distinguishes between two types: striving perfectionism, rooted in high standards and connected to work engagement; and failure-avoiding perfectionism, fueled by a fear of mistakes and linked to burnout.

As an ex-journalist, I’d been meticulous about grammar and punctuation. My book was professionally proofread, copy-edited, and structurally edited. But perfectionism doesn’t operate on logic. Every time I walked past those boxes, anxiety flooded my chest. Instead of feeling proud, I felt paralysed by the possibility of imperfection. So those books sat unreleased for an entire year. My perfectionism convinced me that a single mistake was more dangerous than doing nothing at all.

This is the same pattern that prevents many leaders from showing up authentically; the belief that one little flaw can (and will) destroy credibility. And that’s the danger of perfectionism: it disguises itself as high standards. But it’s actually fear wearing a very, very convincing costume. And when leaders operate from fear, they can’t possibly lead authentically.

How Perfectionism Destroys Authentic Leadership 

Authentic leadership requires vulnerability, trust, and the courage to show up as you really are. Perfectionism demands the opposite: no errors, flawless performance, rigid control, and hiding anything that might expose weakness. I learned this the hard way on a comedy stage.  Standing under the spotlight at the New York Comedy Club, I had every word memorised and every beat rehearsed. In that moment, I felt what every leader knows – the intense pressure to get everything right. Then my mind went completely blank.

For 30 excruciating seconds, I stood frozen while the audience stared. The perfectly crafted jokes I’d spent months writing and rehearsing had vanished. My polished five-minute set was shattered. When I looked down at my palm to see my backup bullet points, I only saw smudged ink. My sweaty hands had smeared my notes. That moment taught me perfectionism isn’t protection. It’s a prison that destroys the very presence we’re trying to create.

The Impossible Standard 

Many leaders believe perfectionism is their secret weapon. They memorise presentations, over-prepare for meetings, and craft responses so polished they shine. But perfectionism creates the very disconnect we’re trying to avoid. When I froze on that stage, it wasn’t from lack of talent or preparation. I was so dependent on scripted perfection that I couldn’t be present. When one element failed, everything unravelled.

I’ve watched this pattern in my workshops. Brilliant people convince themselves they need to be flawless to be credible. They apologise before speaking and downplay their expertise.  But perfectionism sets unattainable standards. What you, I, and your boss believe to be perfect are three completely different benchmarks. It’s rigid and exhausting. Authentic leadership is the opposite. The best leaders own their mistakes, learn from them, and create space for genuine connection.

The Turning Point 

One of the best bosses I ever had showed me what leadership really means with three simple words: “I trust you.” As a journalist, I’d spent years having my work checked and approved before anything was published. I was conditioned to seek permission, and to wait for validation. Those three words broke that pattern. And that’s leadership: trusting someone’s expertise enough that you don’t need to control them. No micromanaging. Just empowerment.

The antidote to perfectionism isn’t lowering standards. It’s raising authenticity and modelling the behaviour you want to see:

Say “I don’t know”:  
Admitting uncertainty is stronger than faking any level of certainty.

Own your mistakes:  
When you admit your mistakes, you give others permission to stop hiding theirs. I eventually released those 700 books… And the phantom typo I was so terrified of? It never existed. I had been paralysed by nothing.

Embrace your first draft:  
My early comedy coach Judy Carter shared something that stuck with me forever: “Get your ideas out there because you can always make them better.”

Share your failures:  
Be open about what went wrong on the path to success. People don’t just want your highlights. They want your outtakes too.

From those boxes gathering dust to that freeze on stage, I learnt the same lesson: fear-based perfectionism will sabotage you every time. When you stop hiding behind polish and focus on being present, everything changes. You become someone others want to follow; and not because you never make mistakes, but because you’re real. The business world doesn’t need more “perfect” leaders. It needs courageous ones willing to show up authentically, make mistakes openly, and connect genuinely.

Written by Jordana Borensztajn. Image Credit: Nicole Cleary. Have you read?
World’s Richest Royals. Global Financial Centres Index.
World’s Richest People (Billionaires). Richest Countries.
The Chief Economists magazine, UGGP News, and the CEO Policy Institute.