From Perfection to Power: Navigating the Downsides of Communicational Perfectionism in Negotiations
Everything seems to be perfect about this employee: this person is reliable, disciplined, educated, executes every task perfectly. However, when it comes to communication with clients or negotiations with potential clients, something is always missing. For some reason this amazing worker is not able to handle communication as brilliantly as everything else. Why?
The development of soft skills has a particular significance for workers in any sphere. Nevertheless, the problem may be something not many workers think of: perfectionism. The desire to be perfect is observed as beneficial by employers, because perfectionists are typically attentive and pay a lot of attention to details. It is not a secret that excessive perfectionism is more of a drawback of productivity, as it makes the process of work slower and the idea of result becomes less achievable for the employer.
Communicational perfectionism appears to be a relevant issue for many people. It may occur due to various reasons:
A lack of confidence. Socially awkward people feel uneasy when they need to communicate with others. They might be naturally shy, or experience problems with self-esteem. In such a case they can have unachievable expectations for themselves regarding communication, as they compare themselves to other workers and think that it is impossible for them to be like others. In such a case it is a great idea to train the soft skills of this person and to practice them in group sessions. This may help not only to increase the level of confidence for one person, but also to unite the whole work team.
They speak foreign language. Comparison with others goes to extremes when it comes to non-native English-speakers. Instead of being focused on the matter of negotiations, they pay too much attention to the word-choice, pronunciation and grammar constructions they use in their speech. Any mistake influences the flow of negotiations as such workers are afraid that nobody is able to comprehend the idea they try to convey. Proper business English training can help them to feel more comfortable and be less concerned about probable mistakes.
Too much pressure. Some workers consider each communicational task given to them a challenge or a test from their boss, which will affect their future work prospects. This can be a result of anxiety or simple overthinking. Responsibility that these people have makes them extremely anxious about everything they do or say, as they expect to be perfect and do not allow any other kind of scenario. The training of adaptability and resilience, key soft skills for a more balanced attitude, can help such people to feel calmer in stressful situations and reduce their anxiety.
In conclusion, cultivating awareness around communicational perfectionism is crucial for employers. Recognizing this tendency in your workforce is the first step toward fostering a healthier communication culture. Mitigate communicational perfectionism through targeted training and private discussions on responsibilities. It's essential for employees to embrace the inevitability of mistakes and view them as valuable learning opportunities. Keen on building a communicative powerhouse within your organization? Explore more about our corporate programs and empower your team today!
