Why perfectionism isn't always perfect?
CTO Diaries #16
Perfecto!
As engineering managers, we're often wired to ensure everything is flawless before hitting that "Release" button. After all, we've got users relying on our product, and delivering a perfect experience is critical—or so it seems. But here's the reality: perfectionism, while rooted in good intentions, can become an obstacle to progress.
The Trap of "Perfect" Software
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking the software must be perfect before releasing it. We spend countless hours refining every pixel, testing every edge case, and ensuring every line of code is elegant. And that pursuit of perfection? It never ends.
One of our junior developers, a brilliant coder, spent weeks tweaking a feature for an internal tool. Each day, he'd add small improvements that, while useful, didn’t move the needle on functionality. After three weeks, we were still reviewing the same feature. His response? "I just want it to be perfect." And that’s the crux of the problem.
At some point, “perfect” becomes subjective. The risk of chasing that illusion is that the software remains in an endless "work in progress" state, preventing users from experiencing any of the value we've already built.
Striving for "Good Enough"
Releasing software when it’s "good enough" may sound counterintuitive to an engineering mindset, but it can be a game changer. It's not about compromising quality—it's about accepting that perfect doesn't exist in software development. The only true test of perfection is real-world usage.
I once led a project where we launched a version that wasn't flawless by internal standards. Was it scary? Absolutely. But the feedback we received allowed us to prioritize critical improvements, rather than focusing on minor details no one cared about. As a result, the feature improved in ways we hadn't even thought of, all because we got it out the door earlier.
Humanising Your Software Journey
At the end of the day, software is built by humans, for humans. While engineers may focus on the code, users care about their experience. They’re often more forgiving of imperfections than we give them credit for. What they need is software that works and evolves over time—not something that stagnates due to fear of releasing anything less than perfect.
Think about the apps we use daily—how many of them are flawless? Even the most well-known platforms roll out bugs and fixes regularly. It's all part of the iterative process.
Letting Go of Perfectionism in Your Team
As a leader, one of the biggest responsibilities is helping your team navigate the tension between quality and perfection. Encourage them to aim for excellence, but also remind them that iterative improvement trumps endless refinement. A good release cycle is not about launching perfect software—it’s about launching functional software that you continuously improve.
Let your team know that it’s okay to take a breath and release. The code will never be flawless, but with each iteration, it will get better, more stable, and more valuable to users.
7 habits that can help you master the real art of ‘perfection’
Prioritize Progress Over Perfection
Shift focus from “getting it perfect” to “getting it out.”
Emphasize Iterative Development
Encourage smaller, incremental releases.
Focus on Impactful Features
Distinguish between high-priority, high-impact features and unnecessary polish.
Set Time-Bound Deadlines
Use time constraints to keep perfectionism in check.
Adopt a Feedback-Driven Approach
Replace internal perfectionism with external user feedback.
Encourage "Good Enough" Mentality
Promote the mindset of “good enough” being a valid milestone.
Celebrate Imperfect Wins
Acknowledge the value of progress, not just perfection.
Last words
Perfectionism can be the silent productivity killer in software development. The longer we wait to release, the longer we delay progress. Sometimes, what feels "good enough" can be exactly what your users need today—and with their feedback, tomorrow's version will be even better.
Credits 🙏
Writers- Cheers to our guest writer, Kshitij Mohan
Sponsors- Thanks to our sponsors Typo AI - Ship reliable software faster
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