Overview

Is perfectionism paralyzing you? Become a Productive Perfectionist; free yourself from the ""shackles of shoulds"" so you can play a bigger game! Do you still struggle to figure out when your work is good enough? Are you losing hours editing a draft for the 29th time? Are the higher-ups getting nervous that you're not up to the job? Are you tired of settling for the more minor, safer roles instead of finding your greatness because you're too afraid of failing? In The Productive Perfectionist, you'll find hope and action-oriented solutions to move you from paralysis to productivity in this new age of constant change and ambiguity! You'll discover: How to stop being your own worst slave-driving taskmaster. How can you stretch outside of your comfort zone and set and achieve goals that matter to you, your team, and your organization without stress? How do you delegate tasks to the right people at the right moments? Understand how to recognize, create, and celebrate ""situational wins"" for everyone. ""A masterclass in navigating the high seas of ambition without falling into the whirlpool of overwork and burnout. Mayer's insights empower you to work smarter, not just harder, and to find joy in the journey, not just the destination... A vital compass for anyone who aims to succeed with their sanity intact...a beacon of hope for perfectionists and high-achievers alike."" -Dr. Marshall Goldsmith is the Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won't Get You There""This book is usefully perfect. Because it's helpful, it's generous and it's here. Hoarding our best work deprives others from the contributions we're able to make."" -Seth Godin, author of This is StrategyThe Productive Perfectionist: A Women's Guide to Smashing the Shackles of Perfectionism has been honored as Notable 100 Book, 2024 Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition Finalist, Next Generation Indie Book Award Winner, 2025 International Impact Book Awards

Full Product Details

9781935059097

Table of Contents

Reviews

""A much-needed deeper dive into the pervasive and unhealthy expectation of perfection, offering highly practical advice for unlearning unproductive perfectionism in work and life"" -Dr. Valerie Young, co-founder Impostor Syndrome Institute and author of The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women and Men.""A supportive guide full of relatable stories and proven strategies that help you to break free of the constant pressure to be flawless."" -Nicole Clopton, Vice President, Head of Learning, GEICO""Simple, easily implementable productivity and creativity tools you can use immediately. It provides serenity whenever I feel overwhelmed and need a productivity boost!"" -Karen Horting, Executive Director & CEO, Society of Women Engineers""Conquer your inner critic and embrace progress, not perfection!"" -Tasnim Ghiawadwala, Global Commercial Bank Head at Citibank, Kings College, London, UK""Ditch the self-criticism and celebrate progress with this empowering guide."" -Mike Sebring, Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Senior Vice President at Citizens Financial Group, Inc.""Kathryn's client and personal life experiences and useful interactive tools help us establish a solid foundation to inventory our strengths and weaknesses and handle our perfectionist tendencies. A MUST read!"" -Annette Stewart, Senior Director @ RBC Strategic Business Solution and President of the Financial Women's Association""Vibrant storytelling and user-friendly tools empower readers to break free from self-imposed constraints...accessible coaching style, insightful self-assessments, and practical tools."" -Leo Giglio, Ph.D., Faculty Director, Human Resource Management Program, School of Professional Development, Stony Brook University""A clear protocol on how to learn and reflect on our perfectionist tendencies. She delivers a solid evidence-based approach that will revolutionize your thinking."" -Dr. Tammy Wong, CEO of Fostering Executive Leadership, Inc. and author of The Hour Glass Effect""Perfection is a fantasy that blocks access to our real creative power. Kathryn shows how to let go of the fantasy and blossom."" -Bob Dunham, Founder, Institute for Generative Leadership""Become more self-compassionate, less stressed, as you navigate conflicting demands. This book makes me more effective as a person, professional, and mother!"" -Zhanna Treybick, CPA, Financial Women's Association Board Member""Kathryn provides proven practices to overcome your well-established tendencies, push beyond your comfort zone, and win in any field."" -Ann White, Head of New Initiatives and Program-Talent Management, Invesco""It's full of insight, stories that resonate, and helpful tips."" -Margaret Downs, MBA and Executive Coach, Downs & Associates, LLC""Research, personal stories, and practical tools to guide you in conquering your inner voice so you will not just find success, but define it. Anyone in any career or life stage will find it liberating."" -Anne Weisberg, author of Mass Career Customization and Adjunct Professor of Management and Organizations, NYU Stern School of Business""A smart, actionable approach to the paralysis of perfectionism, and its negative impact on both the perfectionist and the organization. -Priya Kaul, Director, Learning Solutions, American Management Association

"""A much-needed deeper dive into the pervasive and unhealthy expectation of perfection, offering highly practical advice for unlearning unproductive perfectionism in work and life"" -Dr. Valerie Young, co-founder Impostor Syndrome Institute and author of The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women and Men.""A supportive guide full of relatable stories and proven strategies that help you to break free of the constant pressure to be flawless."" -Nicole Clopton, Vice President, Head of Learning, GEICO""Simple, easily implementable productivity and creativity tools you can use immediately. It provides serenity whenever I feel overwhelmed and need a productivity boost!"" -Karen Horting, Executive Director & CEO, Society of Women Engineers""Conquer your inner critic and embrace progress, not perfection!"" -Tasnim Ghiawadwala, Global Commercial Bank Head at Citibank, Kings College, London, UK""Ditch the self-criticism and celebrate progress with this empowering guide."" -Mike Sebring, Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Senior Vice President at Citizens Financial Group, Inc.""Kathryn's client and personal life experiences and useful interactive tools help us establish a solid foundation to inventory our strengths and weaknesses and handle our perfectionist tendencies. A MUST read!"" -Annette Stewart, Senior Director @ RBC Strategic Business Solution and President of the Financial Women's Association""Vibrant storytelling and user-friendly tools empower readers to break free from self-imposed constraints...accessible coaching style, insightful self-assessments, and practical tools."" -Leo Giglio, Ph.D., Faculty Director, Human Resource Management Program, School of Professional Development, Stony Brook University""A clear protocol on how to learn and reflect on our perfectionist tendencies. She delivers a solid evidence-based approach that will revolutionize your thinking."" -Dr. Tammy Wong, CEO of Fostering Executive Leadership, Inc. and author of The Hour Glass Effect""Perfection is a fantasy that blocks access to our real creative power. Kathryn shows how to let go of the fantasy and blossom."" -Bob Dunham, Founder, Institute for Generative Leadership""Become more self-compassionate, less stressed, as you navigate conflicting demands. This book makes me more effective as a person, professional, and mother!"" -Zhanna Treybick, CPA, Financial Women's Association Board Member""Kathryn provides proven practices to overcome your well-established tendencies, push beyond your comfort zone, and win in any field."" -Ann White, Head of New Initiatives and Program-Talent Management, Invesco""It's full of insight, stories that resonate, and helpful tips."" -Margaret Downs, MBA and Executive Coach, Downs & Associates, LLC""Research, personal stories, and practical tools to guide you in conquering your inner voice so you will not just find success, but define it. Anyone in any career or life stage will find it liberating."" -Anne Weisberg, author of Mass Career Customization and Adjunct Professor of Management and Organizations, NYU Stern School of Business""A smart, actionable approach to the paralysis of perfectionism, and its negative impact on both the perfectionist and the organization. -Priya Kaul, Director, Learning Solutions, American Management Association"

Author Information

Your guide on this journey-your ""Shackle-Smashing Sherpa""-is Kathryn Mayer. A recovering, paralyzed perfectionist, Kathryn learned about competition, perfectionism, and excellence as a child tennis star and through her work at Goldman Sachs, Salomon Smith Barney/Citigroup, and Deloitte & Touche, among others. Her private clients have included Verizon, Smith College, PayPal, Prudential, KPMG, and many more. An International Coach Federation (ICF) and Newfield-certified coach, Kathryn will help you play bigger and achieve your full career and life potential. An accomplished speaker and the author of two previous books, her website is kcmayer.com

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