Analysing your IQ
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Perfectionism is driven by fear of failure and self-worth tied to output. High standards are driven by values and mastery motivation. The outcome may look similar, but the inner experience is radically different.
This comparison cuts through the confusion around Perfectionism vs High Standards. Both are real, both matter, and conflating them creates problems.
Getting this wrong has real consequences. If you optimize for Perfectionism when High Standards is the bottleneck (or vice versa), you'll plateau and wonder why.
Perfectionism has its own failure modes. Understanding the concept means understanding where it breaks down, not just where it excels.
High Standards operates through different mechanisms. Conflating it with Perfectionism leads to misattribution and ineffective interventions.
| Metric | Perfectionism | High Standards |
|---|---|---|
| Core driver | Fear of inadequacy | Love of craft / mastery |
| After failure | Shame spiral, avoidance | Learning, iteration |
| Finishing | Struggles to ship; endless revisions | Ships, then refines |
| Self-talk | "I must be perfect or I'm worthless" | "This is worth doing well" |
Pop culture conflates the two. Research distinguishes "adaptive perfectionism" (healthy striving) from "maladaptive perfectionism" (paralysis and self-criticism).
Perfectionism drives excellence (it often blocks shipping).
High achievers are perfectionists (many are "good enough" optimizers).
You can't have high standards without perfectionism (they are independent).
Don't ask which is better. Ask which you're weaker in, then build systems to close the gap.
If your standards feel exciting, you have high standards. If they feel like a trap, perfectionism may be running the show.
Stop debating the theory and measure the reality. Take the Personality Test to see your specific score.
Perfectionism is driven by fear of failure and self-worth tied to output. High standards are driven by values and mastery motivation. The outcome may look similar, but the inner experience is radically different.
It depends on context. If your standards feel exciting, you have high standards. If they feel like a trap, perfectionism may be running the show.
Yes. Perfectionism and High Standards are often independent or only weakly correlated. You can be strong in one and weak in the other.
Improvement requires targeted practice in the specific domain that Perfectionism measures. Generic effort doesn't transfer effectively.
Improvement requires targeted practice in the specific domain that High Standards measures. Different skills require different interventions.
Both contribute, but their relative importance varies by role. Technical roles may weight Perfectionism more heavily; leadership and client-facing roles often require stronger High Standards.