Navigating High Standards: 10 Signs You’re Not a Perfectionist But Just A High Standard Setter

Do you strive for excellence in everything you do? Do you often find yourself pushing things to the limit in order to reach your vision or standards in terms of perfection?

It's easy to mistake these traits for having perfectionist tendencies. But in reality, it could be more of setting high standards for yourself that you're determined to meet.  Monica Geller would be among the first to argue the difference!

While both groups may strive for excellence and high standards of achievement, there is a fine line between being a perfectionist and someone who sets high standards for themselves.

Perfectionists often have "excessive personal standards and overly critical self-evaluations." When they fail to meet those expectations, they may experience feelings of guilt, anxiety, and depression. To them, making a mistake is like failing altogether.

The good thing about people who set a high standard or high standards for themselves is they simply strive to be their best version, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Not a Perfectionist — You Just Love Setting High Standards!

So, how can you prove that you're just someone who sets high standards and is not a perfectionist? Here are the differences between perfectionists and people who simply set high standards for themselves.

You focus on progress instead of perfection.

The difference between people with high standards and perfectionists is that instead of obsessing over achieving perfect results, the former focuses on building and making steady progress. You understand that success isn't about being perfect but continuing to move forward and improve.

You also don't let a fear of failure stop you from taking risks and learning from mistakes. You know that you won't be perfect every time, but you also understand how important it is to look back and reflect on what went wrong and how you can still achieve high standards in the future.

You don't spend time overthinking every situation.

Perfectionists tend to get lost in the details, spending too much time overthinking and trying to find the perfect solution. A person with high standards, on the other hand, knows when to move on and focus their energy elsewhere. You don't let yourself get stuck in a loop of overthinking.

This is because you've mastered the art of good prioritizing, understanding that some situations simply don't matter and don't need to be analyzed in-depth, and focusing on the required tasks.

You set achievable goals.

Unlike perfectionists, your high standards don't make you set unrealistic, impossible goals. Instead, you create small achievable objectives that you can realistically work towards. This means you have a realistic understanding of what's doable and what isn't.

Plus, if you don't hit a particular goal, it's not the end of the world - you can choose to constantly adjust your expectations and add motivation and inspiration to try again.

People with high standards don't take criticism personally.

Perfectionists think any criticism is a personal attack. They are the "know it all" type that thinks they know best and become defensive at any suggestion for improvement.

But you're the exact opposite if you simply set high standards. You are mentally strong and welcome and provide constructive criticism as an opportunity to learn and grow rather than take it personally. Your attitude allows you to look at the bigger picture and understand that feedback can help you meet those high standards. You're someone who takes a step back and can objectively assess the situation and make improvements and changes where needed.

People with high standards understand that taking a break is not a sign of weakness.

If you are someone who sets high standards for yourself, here's another sign that sets you apart from perfectionists. You're that person who will take a break when needed and doesn't feel guilty about it.

You understand the importance of taking time off to recharge and refresh. This is the exact opposite of what perfectionists would do.

Perfectionists are so focused and obsessed with achieving perfection that they won't take a break, even when it is needed. Their extremely high standards can't allow them to take a break, so they would rather let themselves burn out than give an inch.

You know how to delegate tasks.

The problem with perfectionists is that they want to control everything and do it all themselves. They don't trust that other people can perform quality services or work to their standards.

You, however, understand that high standards can be achieved by delegating tasks and empowering others to do their best work. You recognize that different people have different strengths and can bring diverse perspectives to a project. After all, two heads are better than one!

You set realistic deadlines for yourself and others.

If we had to describe professional perfectionists in one word, it would be "overambitious." Besides setting unrealistic and high standards themselves, they impose tight and often impossible deadlines for themselves and others. This can lead to more frustration than productivity.

But this is different from your style.

You are someone who takes the time to realistically assess how much time a task requires to achieve it and set realistic deadlines for the parties involved. This shows you have created an organized mindset that allows you to think ahead and plan accordingly.

However, we're not saying that perfectionists don't have an organized mindset. It's just that their focus on perfection prevents them from making realistic assessments and setting realistic standards.

You are comfortable with your imperfections.

Here's what's so great about people with high standards:

• You understand that perfection is an illusion and being less than perfect is OK.
• You're comfortable embracing your flaws and recognize that progress is more important than perfection.
• You're not afraid to make mistakes because you know they can be learning experiences.

But perfectionists are different.

They can't accept anything less than perfect and will beat themselves up if they don't meet their high standards anyway. It's their nature to think about all or nothing, so they can never be satisfied with anything less than perfect.

You're not afraid of stepping outside your comfort zone if it means a better quality of life.

The beauty of being someone who sets high standards for themselves is that you're constantly pushing yourself to do more and wanting to step outside your comfort zone to achieve more.

Yes, it might be scary, but you know the only way to reach those high standards is by taking risks and trying something brand new. You don't let fear of failure hold you back, and that is something that perfectionists can't do. They are too afraid of making mistakes to take risks, limiting their potential.

So, Are You a Perfectionist If You Just Set High Standards?

Unlike a perfectionist, a person with high standards doesn’t think everything needs to be perfect to get a reward. You know that progress is made in small steps, so you celebrate the small victories acquired along the way. This helps give you the motivation to keep the momentum going.

Being someone who sets high standards for themselves doesn’t make you a perfectionist. It just means that you are goal-oriented, determined, and ambitious (and perhaps some Type A tendencies).

So, don’t be discouraged if you exhibit some of the signs above. It’s OK to have high standards and strive for a high standard of excellence and to want to attract success — as long you are living a well-balanced and mentally healthy lifestyle.

Want to know more about your personality? Read about our different personality tests and see which one you would like to take.