Do It Right: Maintaining High Standards Without Perfectionism

Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. [Matthew 5:48]

This verse used to trip me up. A lot. Maybe you too?

Here's the thing about being called to perfection - it's not about being perfect in the way we typically think about perfection. It's about spiritual maturity, about growing in holiness, about becoming more Christ-like in our daily lives. But when you're motivated to Do It Right, that distinction can get pretty blurry.

Let me share what I know about the Do It Right motivation, and then I'll tell you a story about Sarah (not her real name) that might sound familiar to some of you.

When you're motivated to Do It Right, you're all about standards and principles. Whether you're setting them up or following them, consistency is what you are striving for. You bring your ideals to everything you do, maintaining a clear standard with a drive for precision and clarity.

Vagueness? That's not your thing at all.

You're not afraid to stand up for what you believe in, even if it means taking a minority position. This principled approach inspires others but can also stir up tension, especially when it comes to aligning new projects with core organizational values.

Sound familiar? Keep reading.

Sometimes success doesn't feel right if it's not done properly. When your personal values clash with those of the organization, stress levels rise, both for you and the team. This might lead you to try and enforce your standards on others, rather than allowing them the freedom to bring their own perspectives.

And here's where it gets tricky - those high standards can sometimes blind you to the value of different viewpoints, leaving you constantly on the lookout for imperfections. It becomes tough to celebrate good work because you're always striving for better.

Let me tell you about Sarah.

Sarah came to me struggling with overwhelming stress and frustration in her role as a project manager at a Catholic nonprofit. Her Do It Right motivation had her setting such high standards for herself and her team that she was constantly exhausted, working late hours, and redoing others' work to meet her exacting standards.

"I just want everything to be perfect," she told me during one of our first sessions. "Isn't that what we're called to do? Give our absolute best?"

The turning point came when we explored what right actually meant in her context. Through our work together, Sarah realized she had never actually asked her boss what success looked like from their perspective. She was operating on assumed expectations - expectations she had created based on her own high standards.

When Sarah finally had that conversation with her boss, she was shocked. Her boss's definition of right was far more achievable than what Sarah had imagined. They had a productive discussion about deliverable expectations, and together they negotiated outcomes that satisfied both the organization's needs and Sarah's innate drive to do things properly.

This is where St. Thérèse of Lisieux's wisdom comes in handy: Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.

The Little Flower reminds us that doing things right isn't about grand perfection - it's about small, consistent acts done with love.

If you're motivated by Do It Right, here are some practical strategies to help you maintain your high standards without falling into the perfectionism trap:

1. Define Right Clearly

- Ask for specific expectations from supervisors or stakeholders

- Document what success looks like for each project

- Distinguish between essential standards and personal preferences

2. Set Healthy Boundaries

- Recognize when better isn't necessarily needed

- Learn to delegate without micromanaging

- Accept that others may have different but equally valid approaches

3. Celebrate Progress

- Acknowledge incremental improvements

- Recognize team members' efforts

- Find joy in the journey, not just the perfect outcome

4. Practice Discernment

- Pray about which standards are truly important

- Ask for wisdom in applying principles appropriately

- Seek God's perspective on right versus perfect

5. Build in Reflection Time

- Regularly assess if your standards are serving the greater good

- Consider if your drive for perfection is hindering relationships

- Evaluate if your standards align with your organization's mission

Remember, your Do It Right motivation is a gift. You excel in aligning activities with organizational values. Leading cultural initiatives or directing policy changes are areas where you naturally shine. You are dedicated to pursuing excellence in both process and outcome, continuously refining your skills in the process.

The key is to channel this motivation in a way that serves rather than stresses, that builds up rather than burns out. Like Sarah learned, sometimes doing it right means doing it differently than we initially imagined.

Your drive for excellence, when properly directed, can create beautiful outcomes that honor both God and the people around you. The goal isn't to lower your standards but to ensure they're appropriate for each situation and sustainable for everyone involved.

As you continue your journey, remember that God's idea of right often looks different than our human understanding. He's more interested in the heart behind our work than in our perfect execution. When we align our standards with His, we find that sweet spot where excellence meets grace.

What area of your life might need a redefinition of right? Where could you benefit from having a conversation about expectations? Take these questions to prayer this week and see where the Holy Spirit leads you.

Remember, you're not called to perfection for perfection's sake - you're called to love perfectly, serve authentically, and work excellently, all while extending grace to yourself and others along the way.