Most practitioners don’t fail because they’re careless. They fail because they’re waiting for perfect. “Good enough” has a branding problem. It sounds like settling. It sounds like mediocrity. It sounds like lowering standards. But in investigative, auditing, inspection, and interviewing work, “good enough” is not a compromise — it’s a strategic advantage.

Well-Being

The Progress Protocol — Part 2: Why “Good Enough” Is a Power Move

Perfectionism prevents information. Progress creates it — why “good enough” is a strategic advantage in investigative, auditing, inspection, and interviewing work.

Mark Anderson 5 min read

But in investigative, auditing, inspection, and interviewing work, “good enough” is not a compromise — it’s a strategic advantage.

Good enough means:

Complete
Functional
Ready for feedback

Perfect means:

Unfinished
Delayed
Untested

Progress creates information. Perfectionism prevents it.

The Science Behind It

The Progress Principle

Harvard researchers Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer found that the single most powerful driver of motivation and creativity is making progress on meaningful work. Not finishing the whole thing. Not perfecting the whole thing. Just making progress.

Small wins create disproportionate boosts in:

Clarity
Energy
Creativity
Confidence

Perfectionism blocks these wins. Progress multiplies them.

Why "Good Enough" Works

Because execution teaches you what planning cannot.

Every draft reveals something the outline missed. Every interview reveals something the script couldn’t. Every audit finding reveals something the plan overlooked.

You cannot think your way to mastery. You must act your way there. — The core principle of this series

How to Apply This Today

Write the rough draft before you edit.
Start the interview with the questions you have.
Document the findings you know instead of waiting for perfect certainty.
Launch the first version of the workflow and refine it based on real use.

Good enough is not sloppy. Good enough is not careless. Good enough is not unprofessional. Good enough is the starting point for excellence.

Reflection Question

Where in your work are you waiting for perfect — and what would happen if you simply released version one? — The question at the heart of this article

Like much of what I write, training is a first step — the one that moved me beyond my own blind spots, at least some of them. I can provide that training or point you toward providers who teach science-based techniques. Do your research. Find the right fit. Make your training dollar count.

Whether you’re a practitioner or a leader, don’t settle for legacy methods with no empirical foundation. This is not the time to “do it as we’ve always done it.” Leadership carries the same responsibility: to know, apply, and demand standards that maximize your team’s effectiveness and advance your mission.

Anderson Investigative Associates custom-tailors science-based training to meet specific needs. If you’d like to discuss this transition, or any training need, reach out. You’ll also find related topics on interviewing, auditing, and investigations in our other blogs, videos, and instructional blocks.

If you have questions, comments, or an interview topic you’d like me to address, let me know. In the meantime, be well, stay safe, and start investing in a transition that is both ethical and effective. It will elevate everything you do. It’s time to strengthen your interviewing and communication skills, not only in your work, but throughout your life. And if you need help getting started, I know who can help.