SUMMARY POINTS

  • Don’t spend a ton of time fine-tuning slides to perfection
  • Focus on the overall core message and get it done
  • Progress not perfection is what results in wins
It’s only off by the tiniest amount. No matter what you do, you just can’t get it to line up exactly on the Powerpoint slide. One click to the right and is too far off to the right. One click left and it’s too far left.

When that doesn’t work, you resort to manually resizing one or both of the objects so that it does line up perfectly. However, once you do that and get both to line up, then the other associated objects don’t line up. It creates a domino effect.

Arrrrgh - fuck!

And, let’s not even get into font types and sizing. That's a whole ‘nother world of formatting anxiety that you just don’t want to get into now.

Every time you are working on a presentation, you feel like you’re digitally wrestling with the software to make it work - kinda like forcing mismatched pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle to fit together.

All of this is just making it much harder to manage work stress. You don’t need this kind of extra anxiety in your day. You gotta overcome this.

How Powerpoint Perfectionism Can Derail You

Perfectionism is often celebrated in many workplaces as a sign of dedication and attention to detail. However, this mindset can be a double-edged sword. While striving for excellence is admirable, the relentless pursuit of perfection can be a huge deterrent to progress and more importantly, it can also mess you up mentally.

When you’re constantly aiming for flawless presentations, you’ll be trapped in a vicious cycle of stress and anxiety. The pressure to create a perfect slide can lead to endless revisions, late nights, and a never-ending sense of dissatisfaction. You end up banging your head against the wall all the time.

Instead of enjoying a sense of accomplishment with each slide you complete, you end up feeling drained, overwhelmed and stuck.

Perfectionism can also negatively impact your work-life balance. You might find yourself sacrificing more and more of your personal time in the name of perfecting your slides. This obsessive imbalance can lead to burnout, making it difficult to maintain a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle.

Signs You're a PowerPoint Perfectionist

How do you know if you’re a Powerpoint perfectionist?

Well, the fact that you’re reading this article is one dead giveaway.

However, you might not be fully in the deep end yet. Maybe, you’re on the cusp of becoming a crazy OCD Powerpoint user.

Here are some common behaviors and thought patterns to watch out for.

Obsessing Over Tiny Details 

Do you spend hours tweaking fonts, colors, and layouts until they’re just right? While attention to detail is important, excessive focus on micro-elements that nobody will ever notice is a surefire sign of perfectionism.

Endless Revisions 

Do you find yourself constantly revising and reworking your slides, never feeling satisfied with the final product? This can be a clear indicator of a perfectionist mindset.
Recognizing these behaviors is the first step towards overcoming perfectionism and reducing the stress and anxiety associated with it.

Archiving Multiple Versions

If you’re one of those obsessive-compulsives who has to save and archive multiple versions of the presentation, then you’re a certified perfectionist. There’s no need to create a backup of backups. You’ll just have more desktop digital clutter to deal with.

Strategies & Tips To Overcome Perfectionism

It ain’t easy to break old habits, especially ones that have been part of your working style for years. You can’t press the delete button on these and make them go away instantly. It takes some time to phase it out.

So, don’t try to go cold turkey on this. Take small steps and wean yourself off over several weeks. The more you allow yourself to let that shit go, the better you’ll be.

Embracing Imperfection

One of the most effective ways to combat perfectionism is to embrace imperfection. Understand that “good enough” is often sufficient, and a presentation doesn’t need to be flawless to be effective.

In fact, most of the time, the tiny flaws that you see as big glaring problems are virtually unnoticeable to most people, especially to those fucking clueless executives that you sometimes present to.

By accepting that minor flaws and imperfections are natural, you can reduce stress and focus on the main point - delivering the core message of your presentation.

Time Management Techniques

Effective time management is crucial in avoiding the pitfalls of perfectionism. Set specific time limits for each aspect of your presentation - whether it’s formatting, arranging elements, searching for photos, resizing fonts or rehearsing. Stick to these time limits to prevent overworking on details that don’t significantly impact the overall quality.

Get in the zone by using timeblocking techniques where you work in focused intervals (e.g., 25 minutes) followed by short breaks. This approach helps maintain productivity without falling into the trap of obsessing over minor details.

Use Company Templates

We get that you want to make your presentations stand out. This is especially true when you’re prepping for an executive presentation. You want to go above and beyond and make the slides extra special.

However, there is a point where you’ll take things a bit too far and add unnecessary embellishments that just make your presentation look like an overdressed tightwad. Instead, just stick with the corporate template and use the default settings.

Seek Feedback

Learning to accept constructive criticism is essential for overcoming perfectionism. Instead of viewing feedback as a threat, see it as an opportunity for growth and improvement.

Share your presentation drafts with your work BFF and ask for their honest opinions. Let them know that you’re trying not to get all nitpicky with the details. Ask them if it hits the main points and is generally well organized.

Go For Progress Not Perfection

In a world that often glorifies perfection, it’s important to recognize the toll it can take on your well-being and how it can really hamper your progress at work. By understanding the negative impacts of perfectionism on mental health, productivity, and work-life balance, you can take steps to adopt a more forgiving approach to creating presentations.

Remember, the goal is not to produce flawless slides but to get the main message across effectively and authentically. Nobody’s gonna see or give a shit about the tiny misalignments or mismatched font types.

What they will notice is whether or not your story is clear and makes sense.

It’s been said many times - perfection is the enemy of progress. And it is for damn sure when you’re creating presentations.

The best feeling is when you get all the grunt work done and the presentation is completed. The feeling of progress and getting ahead is far better than being saddled with constant dissatisfaction.

So, don’t sweat the micro details. Focus on the core shit, knock it outta the park and celebrate small victories so that you can move on to the next big thing.

Feel Better,
[Cubicle|Therapy]

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