Bulletin boards, lesson plans, classroom décor. Oh, my! As educators, we can easily become wrapped up in running the “perfect” classroom. None of us are strangers to perfectionism. We’re grading and rating students on their growth and achievements each day, so it's easy to fall into perfectionist thinking. Perfectionism isn't as good as some of us think it is; it's actually a double-edged sword. However, there are ways we can reduce perfectionism while maintaining excellence in our classrooms. 

What is Perfectionism?

Perfectionism is the unattainably high standards held for themselves in regard to their performance and abilities. It’s considered an “emotional tendency” or response to the feeling of shame, blame, or criticism. It’s also a motivator to be more “perfect” at the next thing they do, though being perfect at something isn't realistic or attainable. Perfectionists are motivated by validation from others rather than satisfaction in themselves. 

Why is it a Problem? 

We are constantly surrounded by grades, evaluations, tests, and numbers that assign value. It’s no wonder that achievement is always at the forefront of our minds as educators. Perfectionist tendencies may seem like they help us meet goals and increase our achievement, but they can also create unhealthy habits and allow us to become too critical of ourselves. It stops us from being seen and valued for who we are. Research has shown that perfectionism can also contribute to anxiety and depression and could even become a factor in teacher burnout. 

This is not just a problem for educators. Students can fall into the same trap, and we see it every day. But we can also be the first ones in our classrooms to set high standards for ourselves and our students without associating our worth with what others think of us. 

Perfectionism V. Excellence

Perfectionism can never be achieved because a perfectionist will never feel that they are enough. It's a vicious cycle of shame and criticism that leads to stress, anxiety, and unrealistic expectations for ourselves, but we can still strive for excellence. Excellence is an internal drive toward commitment and greatness while perfectionism only seeks external validation. Striving requires a goal while perfectionism can never actually be achieved. The perfect educator doesn't exist, and more importantly, neither does a perfect human. The goal of excellence allows room for personal growth and help from others and avoids external validation. We can’t confuse excellence with perfectionism.

What Can We Do? 

This leads us to ask ourselves what’s motivating us as educators. Is it our performance evaluations? Our classroom aesthetic? Or is it our students? A passion for learning and teaching? Continue reading below for a few tips on redirecting perfectionist tendencies and focusing on embracing excellence in our industry. 

• • • Practice Self-Awareness. Also known as mindfulness, creating strong self-awareness is the first step to breaking our patterns of perfectionism. Once we develop a strong self-awareness, we can recognize tendencies and take action to either stop certain behaviors or encourage them. Here are some mindfulness resources to help you become aware of your mental state.

• • • Encourage Authenticity. A perfectionist's deepest worry is that they aren't enough and "won't measure up." Promoting authenticity in our industry weakens perfectionism and reduces the opportunity to hide our true selves. It starts with each of us being the first ones to be honest, vulnerable, and real with ourselves and with our team.

• • • Redefine Our Indicators of Success. What do you consider signs of a successful project, unit, or school year? Take time to redefine what success means to you and how you want to determine what success looks like without the validation of others around you. Make sure your list is attainable and sustainable. 

• • • Identify Our Strengths. A perfectionist might spend more time thinking about what skills they lack rather than what skills they have. Make time to reflect on the achievements you have and skills you possess that have gotten you to where you are now. How can you orient yourself to harness those skills more effectively in the classroom and where can you go to develop skills you want to improve? 

• • • Embrace Failure. Even though we’re educators, we’re also learners too. Mistakes can be just as valuable as advice. Be humble enough to accept advice and learn from your mistakes because we’re going to make them anyway.

For more tips for teachers, follow the Mobile Ed blog.