Dr. Greg Chasson: Overcoming Perfectionism in Your Job Search and Career

In this episode, we dive into perfectionism—how it impacts job seekers, employees, and leaders—and explore strategies to overcome its pitfalls without losing its advantages. Our guest is Dr. Gregory Chasson, a board-certified cognitive behavioral therapist, researcher, educator, and author of the new book, Flawed. Dr. Chasson breaks down why perfectionism can be both an asset and a hindrance, explaining how rigid thinking and excessive expectations can lead to anxiety, procrastination, and workplace friction.

He introduces the “Emphasis Framework” (A, B, and C), a practical tool for deciding how much energy to give each task, guided by your core values—rather than an all-or-nothing approach that can derail productivity. You’ll also learn how to be genuine about imperfections in a job interview, how to avoid paralysis by analysis, and why resilience and cognitive flexibility matter more than flawless performance.

Whether you’re searching for a job, leading a team, or simply aiming to strike a healthier balance between ambition and well-being, this conversation offers real-world insights you can apply today.

Key Takeaways

• The difference between aiming high and getting stuck in rigid perfectionism
• Why perfectionism often creates anxiety and stalls progress—especially in job hunting
• How to harness the strengths of perfectionistic traits (e. g., conscientiousness) while reducing the downsides
• Practical steps from Flawed to cultivate cognitive flexibility, better decision-making, and more balanced expectations

Resources & Links

• Get the book: Flawed by Dr. Gregory Chasson
• More about Dr. Chasson: gregchasson.com
• International OCD Foundation: IOCDF.org
• Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies: ABCT.org