What if Good Enough is Enough?
There’s a fine line between striving for excellence and getting stuck in the endless loop of perfectionism.
It happens in so many ways. Holding back an idea because it’s not fully polished. Rewriting an email five times before hitting send. Pouring extra hours into a project—not because it’s needed, but because it feels like it should be better.
High standards aren’t the problem. The problem is when the pressure to get everything just right keeps you from moving forward. And in the workplace, that cycle of over-preparing and holding back can quietly limit what’s possible—not because the ability isn’t there, but because the moment to step in passes by.
The Trap of Trying to Get It Perfect
Perfectionism can feel like a good thing. After all, isn’t it better to be prepared? To make sure something is the best it can be?
But here’s the catch: the more senior your leadership role, the less it’s about having everything figured out ahead of time. The people who advance, who influence decisions, who take on the big roles—they don’t do it by getting everything perfect. They do it by moving forward, even when things aren’t fully polished.
Perfectionism slows you down. Over-editing a report, over-researching before speaking up, overworking on something that was already good enough—it all adds up. And the cost? Lost time. Missed opportunities. Added stress.
While perfectionism isn’t exclusive to women, research shows that women are more likely to feel the pressure to be extra prepared before stepping up. It’s not about capability—it’s about conditioning. Being careful. Getting it right. Making sure there’s no gap in knowledge before speaking. Meanwhile, others—who might not be any more qualified—are stepping forward without hesitation.
What If Good Enough Is Enough?
Letting go of perfectionism doesn’t mean lowering the bar. It means getting clear on what actually moves things forward. Here’s how to start shifting the mindset:
Share before it’s polished. That idea, that perspective, that insight you’re holding back? It doesn’t have to be perfect to be valuable. Some of the best conversations start with unfinished thoughts.
Decide faster. Not every decision requires deep analysis. If the extra time spent perfecting something won’t make a meaningful difference, move on.
Expect to learn as you go. The best leaders aren’t the ones who never make mistakes. They’re the ones who adapt, adjust, and keep going.
Redefine success. Instead of measuring success by whether something was flawless, measure it by the impact it had. Did it help? Did it move something forward? Did it open a door? That’s what matters.
Leading Without the Extra Weight
Perfectionism can feel like a safety net, but in reality, it’s just a weight. It makes leadership feel heavier than it needs to be.
The leaders who make the biggest impact aren’t waiting until they have all the answers. They’re stepping in, speaking up, and figuring things out along the way.
What would happen if you stopped trying to get it perfect—and just went for it?