Letting Go of Perfection in Teaching

Teaching is a profession driven by passion, purpose and a desire to make a difference, yet it also exists under constant pressure, long to-do lists and limited time. In this environment, perfectionism can easily take hold. While often seen as a positive trait, symbolising dedication, high standards and going “above and beyond” – perfectionism can also be emotionally draining. It keeps educators striving for an unattainable standard, leaving them frustrated, exhausted and always feeling “not good enough.”

Gemma Drinkall explores how many teachers try to apply the same high level of care and detail to every task, only to become overwhelmed. Through coaching conversations, she introduces the idea of separating work into “proper meal” tasks and “mince and mash” tasks – allowing teachers to invest deeply in the work that truly matters while approaching other tasks with a “good enough” standard. She shares examples of clients who adopted this mindset and experienced more satisfaction, balance and productivity.

Gemma encourages teachers to let in a bit of “slop”, choose something meaningful to do properly, and reflect on the impact. By acknowledging that there is simply too much to do in the time available, educators can let go of perfectionism, redefine success and give themselves compassion – because good enough really is good enough.

Read the rest of the blog here:

Letting go of perfection in teaching — Gemma Drinkall – HeadSphere

The author

Gemma Drinkall

Gemma Drinkall is an Educational Wellbeing Coach dedicated to helping middle leaders in education to create clear boundaries so that they can thrive in teaching.

https://headsphere.co.uk/