Breaking Free from Perfectionism: Leadership Tips for Women
In the latest episode of Sleep Like a Boss Podcast, I had the honor of sitting down with Maya Sharfi, an executive and leadership coach dedicated to helping women step into senior leadership roles with confidence and balance. Maya shared incredible insights on overcoming challenges unique to women in leadership and strategies for thriving at the top without sacrificing well-being.
Maya is the founder of Build Yourself, a leadership coaching company that helps women rise into senior executive roles and thrive in them—ditching overworking to lead more boldly and impactfully.
Maya's clients achieve results like landing senior executive roles, launching new, innovative initiatives, and achieving $40k, $80k, and even $100k salary bumps. Companies Maya has worked with have increased the promotion rate of women by 3x and seen an 18% increase in women recommending their company to other women.
Maya is a former Harvard Innovation Lab resident, was named a 40 Under 40 by Impact Design Hub, and is a graduate of Brown University and the Harvard Graduate School of Design. She loves graphic nonfiction, the color yellow, and eating pickled foods.
As someone who has experienced burnout firsthand, I know how essential it is for women in leadership to redefine success in sustainable ways. Maya’s expertise shines a light on the path forward, empowering us to navigate career advancement while staying true to ourselves.
The Hidden Struggles of Women in Leadership
Maya opened up about the misconceptions women often face when climbing the corporate ladder. Many believe that working harder or striving for perfection is the key to success, but this approach can lead to burnout and stalled growth. Common challenges include:
Underdeveloped Influence Skills: Women may feel their hard work speaks for itself, but influencing decision-makers is crucial for driving change and gaining recognition.
Limiting Behaviors: Perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the need to overprove oneself are patterns that can hold women back.
Lack of Recognition: Many women excel in their roles but struggle to ensure their accomplishments are visible to the right people.
Five Strategies for Leading Effectively
Maya outlined five game-changing strategies that every woman in leadership can use to thrive:
Master Time Management: Treat your time like an executive would. Prioritize high-impact tasks and delegate where possible.
Empower Your Team: Cultivate independence among team members to free yourself from micromanaging and focus on leadership.
Develop Influence Skills: Learn how to communicate your vision, align stakeholders, and navigate organizational dynamics effectively.
Celebrate and Share Wins: Make sure your achievements are recognized. If you don’t highlight your successes, they might go unnoticed.
Break Limiting Patterns: Address behaviors like overworking, perfectionism, and overcommitment. Practicing progress over perfection can be a liberating first step.
“Many believe that working harder or striving for perfection is the key to success, but this approach can lead to burnout and stalled growth”
The “Cinderella Effect” and Navigating Ambiguity
One fascinating concept Maya discussed is the "Cinderella Effect," where women work tirelessly to earn a leadership role only to feel overwhelmed or unprepared when they get there. She stressed the importance of mindset preparation for those crucial first 90 days in a new position.
Maya also encouraged women to embrace ambiguity by proactively defining their roles instead of waiting for direction. Networking and building clarity about your career aspirations can make all the difference in navigating organizational dynamics.
Power Habits for Sustainable Success
Maya introduced the idea of "power habits"—small daily actions that help reframe limiting beliefs and promote balance. Two examples stood out:
The 80% Perfection Exercise: Focus on delivering work at 80% perfection instead of aiming for 100%. This approach allows you to excel while avoiding unnecessary stress.
The “No Diet”: Practice saying no to commitments that don’t align with your goals or values, freeing up time and energy for what truly matters.
Leadership doesn’t stop at the office—many women also juggle significant responsibilities at home. Maya highlighted the importance of sharing household duties equitably to reduce the mental load. She recommended resources like Tiffany Dufu’s book Drop the Ball and Fair Play facilitators for practical guidance.
For more insights and resources from Maya, connect with her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maya.sharfi/ or LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayasharfi/ and for more info, visit her website buildyourselfworkshop.com
