Don’t Let Perfect Be the Enemy of Progress

Especially when you’re supporting executive decision-making.

As actuaries, analysts, and consultants, we’ve been trained to value accuracy. And for good reason. Precision matters. But sometimes the pursuit of precision can get in the way of progress.

One of the most common pitfalls I see—especially in high-performing teams—is the tendency to hold off until the “right” data becomes available. Or to wait until a perfect methodology can be applied. Or to delay a response until every single caveat and nuance has been accounted for.

And by then? It’s often too late.

A Real-World Example

I’ll never forget a moment when a CFO reached out to one of the teams I worked with. They wanted a quick take:

What impact did a specific disease state have on financial results?

The team sprang into action—pulling data, QA’ing extracts, running deep analyses, validating every link in the chain. A full week later, they sent a beautiful, detailed report.

But by that point? The CFO had moved on. The moment had passed. The question was no longer relevant. And worse, the CFO had no insight when they actually needed it.

So what was the result?

• The CFO was frustrated and disappointed

• The team spent a week on something that didn’t get used

• And a perception was formed: This team is slow, overly technical, and not responsive to executive needs.

In any organization, but consulting especially, that kind of perception can be costly.

Directional > Perfect (When the Clock Is Ticking)

The takeaway? When a leader asks for insight—ask one thing immediately if it's not clear in the request:

How quickly do you need it?

If the answer is “soon,” ask if a high-level, directional estimate will suffice. Nine times out of ten, it will. And you’ll earn goodwill by responding fast and thoughtfully.

Remember: leaders aren’t always looking for a perfect answer. They’re trying to assess whether something has merit, what ballpark we’re in, or if something’s worth digging into further.

You can always follow up with a deeper dive later.

Good Analysis, Delivered Fast, Builds Trust

This isn’t about being sloppy. It’s about being smart. Use what you have. Make reasonable assumptions. Be transparent about limitations. And deliver something useful, now.

Your stakeholders will thank you. Your team will be more efficient. And you’ll position yourself as a true business partner—not just a technical expert.