logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2018
36m 59s

Perfect Is the Enemy

Harvard Business Review
About this episode
Perfectionist tendencies are a trap that can be difficult to avoid, but we’ll be more productive and advance faster if we don’t worry so much about making the occasional mistake. We talk about how perfectionists can get out of their own way, and how to effectively manage a perfectionist. Guest: Alice Boyes. Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” pr ... Show More
Up next
Jul 7
That’s Our Show
This episode marks the end of a show that’s meant so much to us. Amy Bernstein and Amy Gallo say goodbye, answer two last Ask the Amys questions, and reminisce with founding producer Amanda Kersey. HBR’s Maureen Hoch, who came up with the original idea for the podcast, joins to s ... Show More
33m 36s
Jun 30
Ask the Amys: Sabotaging Bosses, Irritating Employees, and More
What if your boss turns against you the minute you ask for a promotion? Or you struggle with strategic thinking and keep getting feedback that you’re “too in the weeds”? Or the person dragging down your team is doing just enough to stay out of trouble? The Amys give advice for de ... Show More
30m 24s
Jun 16
Let Go of the Beliefs That Limit How You Lead
Many of us have internal beliefs—I need it done now, I know I’m right, I need to be involved—that feel like truth but actually hold us back as leaders. Executive coach Muriel Wilkins calls these counterproductive beliefs “hidden blockers,” and she talks the Amys through the proce ... Show More
34m 30s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2020
Self-Promotion
Are you unsure of when to toot your own horn? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Meredith Fineman, a communication coach and author. They talk through what to do when your boss takes credit for your accomplishments, your employer doesn’t value what you bring to ... Show More
28m 45s
Dec 2018
Bored and Disengaged
Have you checked out at work? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Dan Cable, a professor at London Business School. They talk through what to do when you aren't excited about your organization, new assignments don’t hold your interest, or all the best projects g ... Show More
29m 57s
May 2019
Unwanted Roles
Is your job turning into something you don't want? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Francesca Gino, a professor at Harvard Business School. They talk through what to do when your boss gives you duties you dislike, your company is grooming you for roles you ca ... Show More
33m 30s
Feb 2018
First-time Bosses
What should you do when you become the boss? Co-hosts Alison Beard and Dan McGinn answer your questions with the help of Harvard Business School professor Alison Wood Brooks, an expert on behavioral insights. They talk through what to do when your direct reports are older than yo ... Show More
36m 14s
Oct 2020
Flawed Bosses
Do you wish you could understand your boss better? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Mimi Nicklin, a business coach and author. They talk through what to do when you have a boss who is unforgiving, who relies on you to cover their flaws, or who flip-flops betw ... Show More
36m 58s
Jan 2019
Getting Sidelined
Have you been sidelined at work? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Bill Taylor, a cofounder of Fast Company. They talk through what to do when your responsibilities have been reduced, you’ve been moved to an underperforming team, or your boss is leaving you ou ... Show More
38m 53s
May 2024
The Science Of Overcoming Perfectionism | Thomas Curran
New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers. --- Actionable advice on working with one of the few socially acceptable vices. Whilst striving for perfection might seem logical on some level, it’s not actuall ... Show More
1h 11m
Sep 2023
Ep.54 Perfectionism Is Holding You Back: How To Achieve AND Be Highly Productive [SOLO EP]
“You have this false perception that perfectionism is good for your work, but realistically it’s actually harming your work in the long term” 💅🏼 In this week's solo ep, we're talking all about perfectionism - in work, relationships and life in general, with the aim to reframe o ... Show More
22m 8s
Nov 2020
Women at Work: Too Shy to Be a Leader
Women at Work is a podcast from Harvard Business Review that looks at the struggles and successes of women in the workplace, hosted by HBR's Amy Bernstein, Amy Gallo, and Emily Caulfield. In this episode, you'll hear about the tension that comes from feeling like you are a shy pe ... Show More
39m 59s
Nov 2019
Perfect Timing (Live)
Is the right career move coming at the wrong time? Dan and Alison answer your questions with the help of Daniel Pink, the author of “When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing.” In front of a live audience, they talk through what to do when you’re poised for a better role but ... Show More
44m 40s