top of page

The Colleague Who Can’t Let Go: When Perfection Becomes a Workplace Problem

  • Writer: J.Lee
    J.Lee
  • Sep 19
  • 2 min read
ree

The Colleague Who Can’t Let Go


Every office has that one person who insists things must be done their way or no way at all. Their desk is spotless, their spreadsheets color-coded, their emails written like legal contracts. At first, their attention to detail looks impressive. But look closer, and you’ll see how their rigidity can slowly choke collaboration and flexibility.

This type of coworker is rarely satisfied. Projects stall because they’re endlessly revising, editing, and rechecking. Meetings turn into debates over minor procedures rather than strategy. Their definition of “done” is so extreme that others often feel drained just working alongside them.


The real challenge isn’t their competence, it’s their need for control. They struggle to delegate, resist compromise, and bristle when others take initiative. What starts as “high standards” can morph into micromanagement that leaves teammates anxious, second-guessing, or disengaged.


The Hidden Costs on the Team

On the surface, they appear to be the “safe pair of hands” someone who will never let a mistake slip through. But beneath that exterior, the ripple effects can be damaging:


  • Slowed progress: Projects drag because “perfect” replaces “finished.” Deadlines are often missed not due to complexity, but due to an endless cycle of corrections.

  • Eroded trust: By refusing to delegate, they send a silent message: “No one else can be trusted.” This erodes confidence across the team and breeds resentment.

  • Burnout risk: Colleagues working under their constant oversight feel suffocated. Every email draft, presentation slide, or report is scrutinized to the point of exhaustion.

  • Missed opportunities: Innovation dies when rules overshadow results. The team becomes hesitant to suggest new ideas, fearing they’ll be shot down as “not the right way.”

  • Fragile collaboration: Team members tiptoe around them, choosing silence over confrontation. Over time, this damages communication and morale.


It’s important to note: these individuals usually aren’t trying to be destructive. In their mind, they’re preventing mistakes, protecting standards, and “saving” the team from errors. But in practice, their rigidity creates the very inefficiencies they believe they’re avoiding.


How to Work With Them


  1. Set clear boundaries: Define what’s non-negotiable and what’s flexible.

  2. Focus on outcomes, not methods: Shift the conversation from how to why.

  3. Acknowledge strengths: Recognize their diligence without enabling excess.

  4. Communicate limits: Politely but firmly note when perfectionism delays progress.

  5. Stay calm under pressure: Their rigidity thrives on emotional reactions; don’t feed it.



There’s value in detail, order, and standards. But when those traits become chains, they don’t just restrain one person, they tie down the whole team. The challenge is learning how to appreciate precision while ensuring progress doesn’t get lost in the pursuit of impossible perfection.


For a complete breakdown of all 8 toxic coworker archetypes and strategies to protect yourself, check out Saboteurs in Suits: The Psychology of Toxic Colleagues. Learn how to recognize, respond, and thrive despite workplace sabotage.


bottom of page