IT Management Slideshow: Extreme Perfectionism: How it Hurts Your Performance

What's wrong with being perfect? A lot, if you push it too far. Sure, we all want to excel. But there's a difference between driving for excellence and obsessing over every single detail. The latter results in the unnecessary exhaustion of your IT department resources, as outcomes fail to justify the effort. Additional fallout may include dropped deadlines and a demoralized staff - not to mention the personal toll you may suffer -- according to "The Perfectionist's Handbook: Take Risks, Invite Criticism, and Make the Most of Your Mistakes" (John Wiley & Sons/Available now). Author Jeff Szymanski distinguishes between the constructive and destructive sides of perfectionism. He illustrates the trouble signs that emerge when you've taken the pursuit of high standards to extremes. Then, he offers insight into how you can tap upon this trait to increase your organizational value while minimizing the consequences. Szymanski is a clinical instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School, and serves as executive director of the International OCD Foundation. Here are selected highlights, including six action steps to help you cultivate positive perfectionism in yourself and your workforce.