Dolly Parton spoke with organizational psychologistAdam Grant on his podcast "WorkLife."- She said that she identifies as a "professionalist" rather than a perfectionist.
Dolly Parton has achieved quite a lot in her career of over five decades, including penning and performing numerous chart-topping songs, accruing prestigious awards, and appearing in many classic films. But she told organizational psychologist and Wharton School professor Adam Grant that
Speaking with Grant on his podcast "WorkLife with Adam Grant," Parton said that she strives to "work hard" and get things right, to a point. But the singer-songwriter added that perfectionism — a personality trait that pushes people to strive for perfection and become highly critical over perceived flaws — can be more of a hindrance than a help.
"For instance, if I've recorded a song and maybe it's not technically correct, if it's emotionally right, I leave it like it is," Parton told Grant.
Parton explained that a flawed "first take" imbued with "that feeling and that heart and that emotion" is often far more powerful than a technically perfect, less soulful version recorded after multiple attempts. And the country star said that the same logic can apply to her performances at concerts.
"If I mess up, I just make it part of the show," she said.
The singer-songwriter told Grant that perfectionists are hard to work with. In her 2017 book "Dolly on Dolly: Interviews and Encounters with Dolly Parton," Parton described one of her collaborators, the musical artist Linda Rondstadt, as a perfectionist. Along with Emmylou Harris, Parton and Rondstadt formed the super group Trio, which released a successful eponymous album in 1986.
In her book, Parton described Rondstadt as a singer who liked "to live in the studio and works so slow, it drives me nuts. I wanted to get a cattle prod and say, 'Wake up, bitch, I got stuff to do.'" Tensions flared between Parton and Rondstadt in 1994, when they were in the process of recording a follow-up album. A legal spat ensued, and the album Trio II was ultimately delayed until 1999.
Parton said that she identifies as a "professionalist," meaning that she's someone who always strives to do their best, while accepting that flaws are an essential part of both life and the creative process.
"Everybody likes to do their best at all times," she said. "We don't like to mess up. I don't like to make mistakes. But like I said if you make a mistake, it's best that you just pick it up and turn it into something positive."