Leadership Minute: Don't Let Perfection Get in the Way of Progress

As educational leaders, we often find ourselves caught in the pursuit of perfection—meticulously editing communications, endlessly revising plans, or waiting for that elusive "perfect moment" to launch an initiative. But here's the truth: there rarely is a perfect time in school leadership. Sometimes, sending that communication or executing a plan in its current state is far better than waiting until conditions are ideal. When we wait too long, the moment passes, and we end up not acting at all. In other words, the pursuit of perfection prevents progress.

3 Perspectives to Consider

1. The Cost of Delay: Every day spent perfecting a plan is a day your school community doesn't benefit from its implementation. Consider the learning opportunities, student experiences, or staff development that might be missed while waiting for perfection. Ask yourself: "Is the marginal improvement worth the delay in impact?"

2. Perfection as a Moving Target: In educational environments, conditions are constantly changing—new policies emerge, student needs evolve, and staff capabilities develop. What seems "perfect" today may need adjustment tomorrow regardless. Rather than aiming for a static ideal, embrace an iterative approach where progress and adaptation are valued over initial perfection.

3. Perfection's Psychological Toll: The constant pursuit of perfection creates unnecessary stress for both leaders and their teams. It sets an unattainable standard that can lead to burnout, decreased morale, and a culture of fear around making mistakes. By embracing "good enough to start," you model resilience and create psychological safety for innovation.

2 Theory-to-Practice Ideas

1. Implement the 80/20 Rule: When launching a new initiative, aim for 80% readiness rather than 100%. Identify the core elements that must be in place for meaningful implementation, then launch with those elements solid. Create a clear process for gathering feedback and making improvements after launch, transforming "perfection before action" into "excellence through iteration."

2. Schedule Regular Reflection Windows: Rather than continuously refining plans or communications before sending them out, set strict deadlines for yourself. Once you've reached a reasonable quality threshold, release your work, but schedule a specific time (perhaps 2-4 weeks later) to assess what's working and what needs adjustment. This creates a rhythm of progress rather than paralysis.

1 Reflection Question

Where in your leadership practice are you currently substituting perfectionism for progress? Identify one specific initiative, communication, or decision that you've been hesitating on. What would happen if you moved forward with it at 80% readiness today rather than waiting for that final 20% that might take weeks or months to achieve?