Is perfectionism stopping you from speaking up?

Is your perfectionism keeping you quiet? Do you wait until the idea is polished, the plan is flawless, or the timing is right before speaking up?

In trying to protect some important needs, you might also be missing out on other things that really matter to you: your voice being heard, your contribution, your growth.

This week’s Quick Tip looks at how to speak up even when things aren’t perfect – and why it might serve more of your needs when you do.

Watch the video or read the transcript below.

💭 Introduction: Do you hold back from contributing ideas until they’re perfectly formed? Perfectionism can be a barrier to connection, learning, and impact for example.

💭 Main Tip: Sometimes we protect ourselves by staying quiet and looking out for our need for emotional safety. But in doing so, other needs – for example to be heard, or to contribute, or to grow – go unmet. Things like belonging, learning, or authenticity are better met when we risk showing up before things are perfect.

💭 Example: Imagine a colleague is frustrated about a change that you made. You might worry you didn’t handle it well, so you avoid discussing it. But if you check in with your own needs – for integrity, to repair trust, or to contribute to a better way forward – you might say, “I’ve been thinking about our last conversation and I’d really like to understand more about what didn’t work for you.” That simple step can open up more dialogue, clarity, and trust.

💭 Over to You: This week, if you find yourself holding back, ask yourself: What need of mine am I trying to protect – and what needs am I not meeting by failing to speak up?

💭 Closing: Perfectionism isn’t always about high standards – it’s often about fear. Let me know what you discover when you take the risk to show up anyway.