Breaking Free from Perfectionism: How to Thrive as a Woman Entrepreneur
Perfectionism can be a double-edged sword for women entrepreneurs. The drive to excel can fuel success. But, it often brings challenges that hinder progress and growth. For many women business owners, perfectionism isn’t just about wanting things to be done well. It's about chasing an impossible standard, fearing failure, and facing pressure to meet expectations. Both internal and external. This relentless pursuit can lead to self-doubt, burnout, and a sense of never being good enough. Even when achieving great things. It's important to recognize these patterns and understand that you’re not alone. Many women entrepreneurs struggle with the weight of perfectionism. Acknowledging its impact is the first step towards change.
It's vital for women entrepreneurs to know how perfectionism blocks success. It can prevent them from thriving in business. This isn’t just about managing time better or working harder. It’s about understanding the deeper roots of these behaviors. Which are often tied to past relational experiences, and how they manifest in your business journey. A more compassionate view of perfectionism can help you. It can reframe your approach to business for the long term. But also fulfilling, and aligned with your true potential.
Perfectionism Can Block Women Entrepreneurs' Success in 6 Ways:
Fear of launching.
Overwork.
Inability to delegate.
Procrastination.
Difficulty with feedback.
Underpricing their services.
We will unpack each challenge. Then, we'll give you research-based strategies to help you overcome them. As you read on, you'll learn to beat perfectionism. Embracing progress will unlock your business's full potential.
Fear of Launching or Taking Action
Perfectionism often blocks success for women entrepreneurs. It creates a fear of launching or taking action. Perfectionists often delay the launch of products, services, or new business initiatives. Waiting until everything feels perfect. This hesitation can stem from a deep-rooted fear of failure or rejection. Often linked to past relational experiences where approval was conditional on performance. This fear can lead to missed opportunities. The need for everything to be flawless prevents you from moving forward and seizing chances that could grow your business.
Mindfulness-based and trauma-informed strategies can be particularly effective in addressing this fear. Instead of striving for perfection, practice grounding techniques to stay present and focus on what is achievable now. Acknowledge the anxiety and fear without judgment, and gently challenge the belief that things must be perfect to succeed. Mindfulness can reduce the grip of fear. It does this by helping you observe your thoughts and emotions without attachment.
Exploring the Origins of These Perfectionistic Patterns in Perfectionism Counseling Can Also Be Helpful.
Knowing how these fears arose from early relationships can empower you to change the narratives that drive your actions. Adopt a "good enough" mindset. Take small, deliberate steps. Celebrate progress over perfection. This will create space for growth. It will let your business flourish, despite its flaws.
Overworking and Burnout
Perfectionism often drives women entrepreneurs to overwork. Pushing themselves beyond healthy limits in an attempt to meet impossibly high standards. This relentless striving is frequently rooted in early relational experiences. Ones where love, validation, or approval were tied to achievement. As a result, overworking can feel like the only way to prove one’s worth. But it can quickly lead to burnout, sapping the energy and passion needed to sustain a business over the long term. This overexertion harms your well-being. It also limits your creativity and resilience, which are key to entrepreneurship.
Working with a therapist for perfectionism can help address overworking and burnout. This can include a combination of mindfulness-based and emotion-regulation strategies. Mindfulness can help you become more aware of the internal drive pushing you to overwork. Allowing you to pause, reflect, and choose a different path. Whereas practices such as mindful breathing or body scans can anchor you in the present moment. Reducing the urgency to keep working when rest is needed.
Incorporating Emotion Regulation Techniques
When working on perfectionism in therapy, try emotion regulation techniques. They can help. For example, validating the deep fears that fuel overworking can transform. You can set healthier boundaries by challenging the "unrelenting standards" beliefs. Perfectionism counselling can help you engage in supportive relationships. Especially, ones where your value isn’t contingent on your productivity. This can provide a corrective experience, reinforcing that you are worthy regardless of your output. To find balance at work, set realistic expectations. Also, focus on self-care. By supporting both your personal and professional well-being, you support yourself.
Inability to Delegate
Perfectionism often leads to the belief that no one else can meet your high standards. Resulting in an inability to delegate tasks. This behavior often has its origins in early experiences in which control served as a means to manage anxiety. Or a way to maintain a sense of safety in relationships. For women entrepreneurs, this can mean taking on too much and becoming the bottleneck in their own business operations. Which can ultimately stifle growth and overwhelm them in the process.
Through perfectionism counselling, you can address this challenge. However, it requires a shift in mindset and practical strategies. Working with perfectionism in therapy can introduce you to mindfulness practices. These can help you become aware of the internal dialogue that insists on doing everything yourself. By noticing these thoughts without judgment, you can create space to challenge them and consider the benefits of letting go. A mindful pause before taking on additional tasks allows you to evaluate whether you must handle them personally.
By Working with a Therapist for Perfectionism, You Can also Explore the Underlying Beliefs.
For example, a "mistrust” core belief, may drive the reluctance to delegate. Perfectionism counselling or coaching can help you identify and reframe these beliefs. Shifting from "I have to do it all" to "I can trust others to support me." Interpersonal strategies can aid delegation. They include fostering a team that values trust and communication. Developing these skills not only lightens your load but empowers your team. Allowing your business to grow beyond your individual capacity.
Procrastination Due to Overthinking
Perfectionism often leads to overthinking. Which can paralyze decision-making and cause procrastination. For women entrepreneurs, this can manifest as analysis paralysis. Where the fear of making the wrong choice or not achieving a perfect outcome prevents forward movement. This pattern is frequently rooted in attachment experiences where mistakes were harshly judged. Or success was linked to avoiding errors, creating a deep-seated anxiety around decision-making.
To address procrastination caused by overthinking, perfectionism counselling can be highly effective. Mindfulness can help you see the anxious, looping thoughts that cause procrastination. A therapist for perfectionism can help you. By practicing mindful acceptance, you will learn to sit with discomfort and uncertainty. All without letting them dictate your actions. Techniques such as guided imagery or body scans can help ground you in the present moment, reducing the power of anxious thoughts.
Adopting a "Good Enough" Mindset Can Be Transformative.
Set realistic standards. Progress is more valuable than perfection. Working with perfectionism in therapy can also help explore the origins of these fears. Allowing you to reframe your relationship with mistakes and decision-making. Identifying and soothing the emotions behind overthinking can empower you to take action even when you don’t have all the answers. By embracing imperfection and prioritizing action, you can escape overthinking. This will help you make decisions that move your business forward.
Difficulty Accepting Feedback
For many women entrepreneurs with perfectionistic tendencies, receiving feedback can feel threatening. It’s as if you are receiving a personal critique rather than constructive input. This sensitivity often comes from early experiences. There, feedback was tied to self-worth. Or it was used as a measure of acceptance and love. As a result, any suggestion for improvement can trigger feelings of inadequacy or fear of rejection. Making it hard to embrace feedback as an opportunity for growth.
To overcome this barrier, we must reframe how we view feedback. We need to adopt strategies that change how we receive it. Practicing non-judgmental awareness with a therapist for perfectionism can help you observe your reactions to feedback. All without becoming overwhelmed by them. Instead of immediately internalizing feedback as a personal flaw, pause and breathe. Allow yourself to separate the information from your self-identity. This mindful distancing can reduce the emotional sting and make the feedback more manageable.
Perfectionism Counselling can also Help You Identify and Challenge the Underlying Beliefs.
These are the beliefs that make feedback feel threatening, such as a "defectiveness" core belief. Recognize that feedback is not an indictment of your worth but a tool for growth and improvement. Grounding exercises or self-soothing practices can further help in managing emotional responses. The ones that arise when receiving feedback. A balanced, less reactive approach can yield valuable insights. They can drive your business forward. But also help you enhance your entrepreneurial journey.
Underpricing or Undervaluing Services
Perfectionism can cause women entrepreneurs to undervalue their services. Often this is driven by the belief that their work isn’t good enough to command higher prices. This tendency often stems from a deep-rooted sense of inadequacy. Where their self-worth is tied to external validation and achievement. Early relational experiences, like conditional praise or comparisons, can create a belief. It is that you must always prove your worth. Leading to chronic underpricing and over-delivering as a way to compensate.
Therapy can help you develop a healthier relationship with self-worth and value. Self-compassion can help you recognize your skills and achievements. It can do this without constant self-criticism. Practice mindfulness. It will help you find your worth beyond your business. Fostering a sense of worth that isn’t dependent on external measures.
Working with Perfectionism in Therapy Can also be Useful
Therapy can help in identifying and challenging core beliefs around worthiness and value. Re-evaluate your core beliefs, like those about "defectiveness" and "self-sacrifice." Then, you can begin to set boundaries. And you can recognize that your work deserves fair compensation. Reflecting on the impact and meaning of your work can shift your focus. From proving your worth to celebrating the unique things you bring. An abundance mindset lets you set prices that reflect your services' true value. It supports your business's finances and your sense of success.
Resources for Women Entrepreneurs with Perfectionism
You may find these additional resources useful for further information and references:
• Brown, B. (2010). The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are. Hazelden Publishing.
• Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. Gotham Books.
• Shafran, R., & Mansell, W. (2001). Perfectionism and psychopathology: A review of research and treatment. Clinical Psychology Review, 21(6), 879-906.
• Hewitt, P. L., Flett, G. L., & Mikail, S. F. (2017). Perfectionism: A relational approach to conceptualization, assessment, and treatment. Guilford Press.
• Molnar, D. S., & Sirois, F. M. (2016). Perfectionism, health, and well-being: An introduction to the special issue. Journal of Research in Personality, 64, 1-6.
• Stoeber, J., & Damian, L. E. (2016). Perfectionism in employees: Work engagement, workaholism, and burnout. In F. M. Sirois & D. S. Molnar (Eds.), Perfectionism, Health, and Well-Being (pp. 265-283). Springer.
Embrace Progress Over Perfection for Authentic Success
Perfectionism can present significant challenges for women entrepreneurs. Fear, overwork, and a lack of delegation block business success. So do procrastination, resistance to feedback, and undervaluing services. A view of these patterns, shaped by trauma, helps. It allows for a kind approach to overcoming them. Through perfectionism counselling, you can begin to shift these deeply rooted behaviors. To build a thriving, authentic, and resilient business, embrace progress over perfection. Set boundaries, trust others to delegate, and take decisive action. Value your work. Remember, perfection isn’t the goal—sustainable growth and fulfillment are. As you pursue your business dreams, accept imperfection. Celebrate each step forward.
Work with a Therapist for Perfectionism in Calgary & Throughout Alberta
If you’re a woman entrepreneur struggling with perfectionism and feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to always get it right, you’re not alone. At my Calgary-based practice, I support women business owners who are dealing with the challenges of perfectionism. Including fear of taking action, burnout, and undervaluing their work. As a therapist for perfectionism, I support them by helping them build confidence, embrace progress, and find balance in their professional lives. Schedule an intake session by clicking the button below to start your journey towards overcoming perfectionism and achieving your business goals.
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About Dr. Easter, a Calgary Psychologist
Dr. Easter Yassa is a Registered Psychologist in Calgary with over 20 years of counseling experience and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. She specializes in helping women entrepreneurs who struggle with perfectionism and feel overwhelmed by the demands of running a business. Dr. Yassa provides a warm, non-judgmental environment where women can explore their challenges, release unrealistic expectations, and embrace a more balanced approach to success. With her extensive experience in various clinical settings and teaching, she offers valuable insights and practical strategies to help women entrepreneurs find confidence, resilience, and fulfillment in their professional journeys.
Other Online Therapy Services Offered in Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, & Nunavut
At IMatter, I offer a range of services to support your mental well-being. In addition to perfectionism counseling, I provide specialized therapy for women, HSPs, therapists, and more. Reach out today to begin your online therapy journey!