Have you ever felt like your high standards are both a blessing and a curse?

On one hand, they push you to deliver top-notch work.

On the other, they might be secretly sabotaging your business and stealing your free time.

Let’s dive into why your high standards might not be making your firm better and how you can turn things around.

The Hidden Costs of Perfectionism

You probably believe that maintaining high standards is the key to success. After all, who wouldn’t want their business to be the best?

But, if you’re involved in every single decision or every piece of work that comes out of your business, you’re unintentionally creating some serious roadblocks.

When you have to “touch” everything, you’re not just busy; you’re overstepping.

Your team starts to rely on you for quality control instead of taking ownership of their work.

This reliance can create a cycle where your team doesn’t feel empowered to put their best foot forward.

They might hold back, thinking, “If I make a mistake, you’ll catch it and fix it.”

The Ownership Gap

Here’s what happens: your team knows you’re always watching always ready to step in.

Without realizing it, they become less inclined to take initiative or innovate.

It’s like having a teacher who corrects every little mistake a student makes.

Over time, the student stops trying to learn and grow because they know the teacher has everything under control.

In a business, this lack of ownership can lead to stagnant growth.

Your team isn’t pushing boundaries or finding new ways to excel because they’re waiting for your approval at every turn.

Instead of fostering a culture of creativity and responsibility, high standards become a barrier to trust and autonomy.

Breaking the Cycle: Letting Go 

So, how do you escape this self-defeating cycle?

It starts with having the courage to step back and let your team take the reins.

Here’s how you can do it in three simple steps:

1. Delegate with Confidence

Start by identifying tasks that don’t require your personal touch. Delegate these tasks to your team members and trust them to handle them.

This doesn’t mean dropping the ball; it means empowering your team to make decisions and take responsibility for their work.

For example, if you’re constantly reviewing every quote that your team produces, try letting them approve quotes up to a certain value.

Provide clear guidelines and expectations, but let them manage the details. You’ll be surprised how capable your team really is.

2. Foster a Culture of Ownership

Encourage your team to take ownership of their projects.

When people feel responsible for their work, they’re more likely to invest time and effort into doing it well.

Celebrate their successes and support them when things don’t go as planned.

Create an environment where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities, not just failures. This approach builds trust and encourages your team to innovate without fear of constant oversight.

3. Implement Effective Processes – make life easy for your team

You owe it to your team to give them guidelines and processes to follow where you can. You don’t have to go crazy with documentation – just clear steps and expected outcomes.

Focus on creating processes that support your team’s autonomy rather than restrict it.

For instance, establish a straightforward approval system where only major decisions require your input.

This way, your team knows when they need to reach out to you and when they can proceed on their own.

Reaping the Benefits: More Time and Better Quality

When you let your team take ownership, the benefits are twofold.

First, you free up your own time to focus on strategic aspects of your business, like growth and innovation.

Second, your team becomes more engaged and motivated, leading to higher quality work and better overall performance.

Imagine coming back from leave without the stress of unfinished tasks piling up.

Your business runs smoothly, your team feels empowered, and you have the freedom to enjoy your personal time without constant interruptions.

A Real-Life Example

Let me share a story about Dave, a deck builder who faced this exact dilemma.

Dave was known for his impeccable work, but he found himself overwhelmed by having to oversee every project personally.

His high standards meant that no task was too small for his attention, leaving him with little time to grow his business or enjoy life outside of work.

One day, Dave had an accident. He had to delegate more responsibilities to his team and trust them to maintain the quality because he had broken his back and couldn’t do the work.

He let his lead carpenter handle the day-to-day operations and only stepped in for major decisions.

Very quickly, Dave noticed a change.

His team became more proactive, and the quality of their work remained top-notch.

With the extra time he freed up, Dave focused on expanding his business, taking on new projects, and even enjoying more time with his family.

His business didn’t just survive; it thrived.

By letting go of the need to control every detail, Dave built a stronger, more resilient business.

You don’t need to break your back to do this – please.

Final Thoughts: Balance is Key

Having high standards is essential, but it’s equally important to recognize when those standards are hindering your business’s growth and your personal well-being.

By letting go and trusting your team, you create a more dynamic, efficient, and enjoyable work environment.

Remember, your team wants to succeed just as much as you do.

Give them the space to shine, and you’ll find that your business will flourish in ways you never imagined.

So, take a step back, empower your team, and watch your business reach new heights while you reclaim your time and peace of mind.