Excellence vs Perfectionism: The Culture Difference
There’s a world of difference between striving for excellence and chasing perfection, and that difference can make or break your team.
In my experience, a culture of perfectionism can feel toxic. It burns people out, stifles creativity, and ultimately leads to lower outcomes. On the other hand, a culture of excellence doesn’t just produce better results—it fosters healthier teams and long-term growth.
So how do you distinguish between the two? Where’s the line between excellence and perfectionism?
The Key Difference: Process vs. Outcomes
Excellence is about what you pour into the work. It’s about focusing on the process—discipline, creativity, planning, execution, and growth. Excellence thrives on hard work, strategic thinking, attention to detail, and follow-through.
Perfectionism, however, is obsessed with outcomes—often to a fault. It fixates on results, including those influenced by factors beyond your control. And that’s where the trouble begins.
The Problem with Perfectionism: Trying to Control the Uncontrollable
An entrepreneur friend of mine once explained Stephen Covey’s ‘circles’ concept like this:
“Imagine two circles: one represents your circle of control—everything within your power to influence. The other is your circle of concern—all the things you worry about but can’t control. If those circles barely overlap, you’ll constantly feel stressed. But the closer they align, the more you’ll thrive. Focus on what you can control.”
That’s the crux of the problem with perfectionism: it pulls you into the circle of concern, leaving you anxious about factors outside your influence.
And as Erwin McManus puts it -
“Everything in life that you try to control, that is outside your control, will steal from you your peace.”
Excellence: Taking the Long View
Excellence, by contrast, takes a broader perspective. Yes, outcomes matter, but they’re evaluated as part of a trajectory—a pattern of consistent improvement over time.
A culture of excellence understands that not every attempt will be flawless. Instead of punishing missteps, it encourages experimentation and growth. When you remove the fear of failure, you create space for creativity and innovation.
Bill Campbell, the legendary Silicon Valley coach to leaders at Apple and Google, summed it up with his motto:
“Be better every day.”
Excellence is about progress, not perfection.
The Cost of A Culture of Perfectionism
A culture of perfectionism teaches people to be afraid of failure. Teams become risk-averse, sticking to what they know works instead of exploring new ideas. Over time, perfectionism leaves a wake of jaded team members, unwilling to step beyond the safe and familiar.
Excellence, however, creates momentum. It’s a culture where people feel safe to try, learn, and grow. It’s not about a single flawless moment but about building habits that raise the bar over time.
As Will Durant (not Aristotle) famously said -
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
How to Build a Culture of Excellence
Focus on What You Can Control
Celebrate effort, strategy, and discipline. Acknowledge outcomes, but don’t fixate on them, especially if external factors were at play.
Reward Progress, Not Perfection
Make it clear that improvement matters more than flawless execution. Encouraging incremental growth will lead to long-term success.
Give Permission to Fail
Create an environment where failure is seen as a step toward growth, not a catastrophe. Innovation thrives when people aren’t afraid to take risks.
Model Excellence as a Habit
Be consistent in your commitment to learning and growth. Your team will follow your lead.
Excellence Over Time
Perfectionism is about a moment in time, but excellence is a trajectory. One burns people out; the other builds them up.
The choice is yours: will you push your team toward the toxic cycle of perfectionism or the sustainable path of excellence?
One creates pressure, the other creates progress. And that’s a decision worth getting right.