THE QUIZ
Did you know there are 5 types of perfectionists? I’ve worked with them all and they’re each extraordinary.
You’re welcome to read a short description of each of the five perfectionist types below. If you’re curious, take the quiz to identify your unique perfectionist profile.
In tandem with the deeper descriptions in the book – as well as your own intuition about which type best describes you – your answers will guide you to a clearer understanding of the patterns around your perfectionistic tendencies.
Just like perfectionism itself, each type of perfectionist profile has its advantages and liabilities. With a greater understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, you can discover the power in your perfectionism; The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control will show you how.
Celebrate and maximize your strengths, recruit support and put boundaries around your weaknesses. Try to have some fun while doing all of this.
What’s more fun than taking a one-minute personality quiz?
You can take the quiz here, and learn more about the 5 types of perfectionists below.
The 5 Types of Perfectionists:
Classic Perfectionists
The type we most think of when we think of perfectionists. Highly reliable, consistent, and detail oriented, classic perfectionists effortlessly infuse structure into their environments. Left unchecked, they can struggle to adapt to spontaneity or a change in routine. Interpersonally, they can be left feeling taken for granted for all that they do.
Intense Perfectionists
Want the outcome to be perfect. They’re effortlessly direct, maintain razor sharp focus on achieving their goal, and they’ll get the job DONE. Left unchecked, their standards can go from high to impossible, and they can be punitive with others and themselves for not achieving impossible standards.
Parisian Perfectionists
Want to be perfectly liked. On a deeper level, they want ideal connections with themselves and others. Inclusive, warm, and friendly, Parisian perfectionists naturally understand the importance of high-quality relationships, and they hold a strong capacity for empathy. Left unchecked, their desire to connect to others can metastasize into toxic people pleasing.
Procrastinator Perfectionists
Want the conditions to be perfect before starting. Procrastinator perfectionists excel at preparing, can see opportunities from a 360-degree perspective, think deeply, and possess strong impulse control. Left unchecked, their preparative measures pass the point of diminishing returns, resulting in indecisiveness and inaction; they don’t actually do the thing they most want to do.
Messy Perfectionists
Want the conditions to continue feeling as perfect as they did at the start. Messy perfectionists effortlessly push through the anxiety of new beginnings, are superstar idea generators, adapt to spontaneity well, and are naturally enthusiastic. Left unchecked, they struggle to stay focused on their goals when the inevitable tedium of the middle of the process begins. They say yes to everything but struggle to commit to anything.
Because perfectionism operates on a continuum, all perfectionists can embody aspects of each type within them. Though one type is usually dominant, it’s also possible to experience contextually specific manifestations of perfectionism. For example, you can be a messy perfectionist when it comes to dating, but a classic perfectionist during the holidays.