Are you holding yourself—or your team—to an impossible standard? In this episode, Shannon Waller unpacks the real differences between high standards and perfectionism. She also explains how to build a culture of confidence, speed, and accountability so your team can deliver great results, move faster, and actually enjoy the process—without getting stuck chasing an unattainable ideal.

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Show Notes:

• Having high standards helps you feel confident and stay clear on what really matters, unlike perfectionism, which can drain your energy and slow you down.


• Perfectionism usually comes from fear—fear of messing up or not being good enough—while high standards come from caring about great results.


• Aiming for “really good” instead of “perfect” will help you get more done, faster, and with less stress.


• The 80% Approach^™ is a great way to keep projects moving forward. Instead of trying to do everything yourself or make every detail flawless, take your work to 80% complete and then hand it off so others can add their expertise. It’s an easier, more collaborative way to avoid getting stuck chasing “perfect.”


• It’s all about teamwork, letting go of control, and trusting that “good and moving forward” beats “perfect and stalled.”


• When your team shares the workload and plays to their strengths, things flow better and no one hangs on to tasks out of worry.


• Make your standards clear and explain why they matter. When people understand the purpose, they step up with better quality.


• Don’t worry if things aren’t perfect; mistakes are just opportunities to learn and improve next time.


• Perfectionism is often a habit we inherit; choose to shift your mindset to focus on progress, not perfection.


• Not every task needs your full-on perfectionist energy—save that for what truly matters to you.


• When you combine high standards with smart teamwork and self-awareness, you create a culture where trust and innovation thrive.

Resources:

Kolbe A^™ Index

The Gap And The Gain by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy

The 80% Approach by Dan Sullivan

Unique Ability^®

Multiplication By Subtraction by Shannon Waller

Transforming Experiences Into Multipliers