Study finds perfectionists happier at work when their boss does this

By Stephen Beech

Perfectionism at work and job satisfaction are more dependent on the expectations of a boss than meeting employees' own high standards, according to a new study.

The happiness of perfectionists depends on whether their goals meet their supervisor's expectations, suggests the findings.

More than nine out of 10 people struggle with perfectionism at work, according to previous research.

The new American study found that whether perfectionism helps or harms employees depends largely on whether their own personal standards align with their supervisors' expectations.

Researchers looked at the connection between employees' self-oriented perfectionism — or the expectations of flawlessness they set for themselves — and supervisors' other-oriented perfectionism, which reflects the extent to which they set excessively high standards for and critically evaluate their employees' performance.

Using data from more than 350 employees and around 100 supervisors, the team found that perfectionism's impact depends on whether employees' standards align with what their supervisors expect — and how clearly those expectations are understood.

When employees' personal standards are aligned with their supervisors' expectations, the study suggests they tend to experience less role ambiguity — meaning they have less uncertainty about the expectations and standards for their role, why those standards matter and the consequences of not meeting them.

More from this section

+4

Is small talk actually good for us?

Medicare is experimenting with having AI review claims – a cost-saving measure that could risk denying needed care

How a new mapping tool helps Florida planners protect wildlife corridors as the state grows

That clarity in their work is linked to better performance, lower burnout and higher job satisfaction, according to the findings published in the journal Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes.

Study leader Brian Swider said: "Problems between employees and their supervisors are more likely to arise when these expectations don't match."

Swider and his colleagues from the University of Florida Warrington College of Business found that the most difficult situation occurs when supervisors expect higher levels of perfectionism than employees expect from themselves.

In those cases, employees reported greater uncertainty about their roles, along with worse work outcomes including higher burnout and lower job satisfaction.

Swider said: "If you're an employee who struggles with perfectionism at work, our findings suggest that understanding your supervisor's expectations may be just as important as managing your own tendencies towards perfectionism."

He added: "Talking to your supervisor about priorities, standards and how your performance will be evaluated can help reduce uncertainty and ensure you both share a clear understanding of what success looks like."

Swider had similar recommendations for employers.

He said they should help their employees by clarifying expectations through regular feedback and performance conversations to reduce role ambiguity, as doing so can provide employees with a better understanding of role expectations and enhance mutual understanding of those standards.

The researchers also recommend that organizations should consider how employees and supervisors are paired, as mismatched expectations can increase stress, reduce job satisfaction and ultimately impact performance.