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:

New Book Out in October

My new book “The PATH to Strategic Impact” is coming out in October. It’s about how to make your big ideas happen and turn ambition into true progress, with case studies from some of the world’s most successful organizations. Learn more at https://michaelgerharz.com/the-path

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.