INTHEBLACK June 2022 - Magazine - Page 60
WORK SMART
// P E R F E C T I O N I S M
// H Y P E R C O L L A B O R AT I O N
STORY AMANDA WOODARD
UNDER
PRESSURE
What happens when the pressure of an individual’s or
organisation leadership’s perfectionism starts to
pervade an entire workplace? Research suggests that
there are both positive and negative implications for
individual employees, culture and productivity.
60 ITB June 2022
T
ech entrepreneur Steve Jobs was often described
as a tireless perfectionist. His desire to attain
perfection frequently provoked misunderstanding
and personal tirades that ultimately led to his dismissal
as CEO of Apple in 1985. Yet, many believed that Jobs’
perfectionism was what propelled Apple’s success.
However, when perfectionism extends from an
individual to a team or organisation, what long-term
impact does it have on employee morale, culture and,
ultimately, performance and productivity?
Dr Anna Carmella Ocampo, a researcher at the
De Vinci Research Center in Paris, has studied the
interpersonal effects of perfectionism in organisations,
particularly when modelled by leaders. She says that
perfectionism can certainly help leaders drive highquality performance among staff as they are intolerant
of shoddy work.
On the flip side, perfectionism is linked with
characteristics and behaviours that make it hard
to maintain good relationships with colleagues.