Why “attention to detail” is not the same thing as “perfectionism” and why that distinction matters … 

Read more thoughts on the art of communicating week-daily at https://michaelgerharz.com/blog

Mentioned in this episode:

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New book

Welcome back to

“Irresistible Communication”.

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Two minutes, twice a week.

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No nonsense advice on

leadership communication.

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Perfectionism has a bad

reputation and for a reason.

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But that doesn't mean that you

shouldn't pay attention to detail.

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Attention to detail is not the

same thing as perfectionism.

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You can value the former and

still beware of the latter.

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Attention to detail means caring for the

little things and getting those right.

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It's about taking the time

that's required to make it just

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right, not perfectly right.

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When you pay attention to detail,

you’ll commit to shipping,

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but refuse to rush a job.

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Perfectionism is different.

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It means that you don't

care about time at all.

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You can’t because you will

only ship when it's perfect.

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It takes as long as it takes,

which is probably forever.

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That's why as a perfectionist,

you can't commit to shipping.

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Ultimately perfectionist don't

really care for the thing.

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But more for themselves.

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They want to spare themselves the

embarrassment of shipping something

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that leaves space for criticism.

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They hate criticism.

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Paying attention to detail shifts the

focus away from yourself and onto the

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experience of your audience, which

can’t happen when you don't ship.

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So, which camp are you in?

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Are you a perfectionist or do

you pay attention to detail?

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Keep lighting the path and

share this with a friend.