Episode 65. The Perfection Trap: The Power Of Good Enough – Professor Thomas Curran

Reframe & Reset Your Career: Job Search & Career Development Insights

What is perfectionism and does it lead to success and better performance? Professor Thomas Curran and I discussed this, other insights from his best selling book “The Perfection Trap”, being interviewed by Gwyneth Paltrow and much more on Episode 65 of the Reframe & Reset Your Career podcast.

In this episode, we will learn about:

How Thomas has had a non-linear career but has bounced back from difficult experiences,

Failure is part of life and reframing failure can help to manage its impact,

What is perfectionism?

Understanding your purpose and not seeking external validation to provide meaning and motivation,

How both genetic and environmental factors impact perfectionism,

The dangers of comparing yourself to others,

Setting realistic goals which are in line with your values and enjoying the journey,

Why perfectionism does not lead to greater success and performance, and

Strategies for managing perfectionism.

Thomas grew up in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, before studying at De Montfort University and the University of Leeds, UK, where he received his PhD in psychology. He taught at several universities in Australia and the UK before joining the Department of Psychological and Behavioral Science at the London School of Economics as a professor in 2019.

He studies the personality characteristic of perfectionism, how it develops, and how it impacts on mental health. His TED talk on perfectionism has received more than three million views.

His research has been featured in media ranging from the Harvard Business Review to New Scientist to CNN and he has appeared on numerous television and radio programs. He is the author of The Perfection Trap.

Thomas and I talked about how becoming comfortable with failure can lead to success, he told me "What's a much more healthier way is to recognise failure as part and parcel of the learning process and actually if we can release the power of failure then we're likely to be more successful because we won't engage in those sabotaging behaviors that mean we avoid challenge and difficulty and try to choose the path of least resistance you know that might be good for success in the short term but when we're thinking about Innovation, knowledge economy and all the rest of it the modern workplace requires creativity, innovation that's where you're going to elevate yourself in those companies and above other people. I think we've got to get comfortable with failure."

People & Resources Mentioned

Karen Horney

Andrew Hill

Contact Thomas

Website: https://www.thomcurran.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thom-curran/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thom_curran

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