The DCAT Alliance for Industry Women (AFIW) hosted an inspiring webinar, “Moving Past Perfectionism: Being Better Than Perfect,” on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, with guest speaker Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D. The webinar, complimentary for DCAT Member Companies, was sponsored by Adare Pharma Solutions.

An admitted recovering perfectionist, Dr. E used personal stories to illustrate what caused her to be a perfectionist, the effects it had on her life, and how she overcame it. She discussed how the perfectionist mentality is more than being neat and orderly. It’s an all-or-nothing mentality based largely on the fear of failure. Perfectionists believe that if something cannot be done perfectly, it should not be done at all.

Dr. E detailed some of the adverse impacts of perfectionism on a person’s emotional and physical health, relationships, mental functions, and work life. Incorporating ideas from her book, Get Out of the Red Zone: Transform Your Stress and Optimize True Success™, she explained how the inner critic perpetuates perfectionist tendencies and creates high levels of negative stress. Dr. E offered strategies to cultivate unconditional self-worth and transform “distress” to get out of the red zone. She also offered methods of striving for excellence while avoiding the negative effects of perfectionism.

The webinar concluded with Q&A from attendees and a book drawing. Four lucky winners were awarded copies of Dr E’s book, Better Than Perfect. Congratulations go to Malgorzata Rosol (Apotex Inc.), Rosina Vega (Greenfield Chemical), Natalee Campbell (Cambrex Corporation), and Marie Di Masso (Corealis Pharma Inc.)

If you missed the webinar or wish to watch it again, visit our webinar library here.

About Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D.
Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D., or Dr E, is a bestselling author and contributor to top media outlets such as The Today Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Oz, Forbes, and The New York Times. She is President of EleVive, a company geared toward providing teens and their parents the tools needed to flourish in all areas of their lives: academics, social relationships, sports, performing arts and more.

About the Alliance for Industry Women Committee Webinar Series
DCAT’s Alliance for Industry Women Committee Webinar Series offers complimentary, one-hour webinars exclusively to DCAT Member Company Representatives. Presented on a quarterly basis, these webinars feature subject matter experts discussing various topics such as work-life balance, technology, communication skills, leadership development, and more. Information on upcoming webinars and links to past recordings are available here.