Letting the Perfect Be the Enemy of the Good

Recently I attended an event where a group of GenZers asked me for advice for some of the challenges that they’re facing.

Keith Herzberg, who serves as a Budget and Innovation Advisor to San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, asked me about seeking perfection, and letting that be the enemy of the good. He asked:

GenZers face anxieties and pressures about getting tasks perfect, 100% perfect. Too often we let perfect be the enemy of the good. What advice can you shed on not letting perfect be the enemy of the good and making sure that something is ready for the world?

It’s an important question. New employees in particular, who are often GenZers, are uncertain and insecure in their new roles. Of course they want to be seen as perfect from their efforts and the results of their efforts.

But behind the quest for perfect outcomes lies a challenge: decisions have to be made without perfect information.

Time is wasted and opportunities are lost when people become fixated on having perfect information, rather than appreciating that there will never be enough information, nor will there be perfect decisions.

You always want solid information, whether it’s about your client’s demographics, your program outcomes, or your nonprofit’s financial condition. But people often neglect to establish benchmarks and contingency plans and to do an honest assessment of whether the plan is working as the organization reaches (or fails to reach) key milestones.

There will always be unexpected twists that can sabotage the best-laid plans, so having a Plan B at the ready is a sound practice. Once a plan is in motion, be prepared to adjust and recalibrate to ensure success.

And stop seeking perfection!

• Does your decision-making process get bogged down in a search for perfect information?

• How can you get used to not having perfect information behind each decision?