Unraveling the myth of the 'perfect solution', we delve into the fallacy that often hinders progress and innovation. We explore how this misconception can lead to stagnation and why embracing imperfection might be the key to breakthroughs.
The cult of the imperfect
We must always choose the third best solution because the second best comes too late
- As the business world moves faster and faster, a good solution today is much more efficient than a very good one tomorrow
- Jeff Bezos uses two simple rules to overcome analysis paralysis
- Make reversible decisions without thinking too much
- Act on irreversible ones when you have about 70% of the information
Analysis paralysis
The tendency to act only when you are ultra-confident about the chosen solution (which translates to “almost never”) can be the result of two psychological mechanisms: the fear of making mistakes and the belief that, choosing a solution now, we miss the chance of finding a much better one.
Set a Goal
Define a main goal, a target, a purpose, a “what am I about?” or “what are we about?”
- Decide based on the alignment to this purpose
- Knowing what you want helps
- For example, if a student association asks you to hold a one-day workshop for 40 students, do not think you have a full schedule, don’t think what your price is, just say yes
The Nirvana Fallacy
The second mechanism of analysis paralysis is the reluctance to choose a solution because maybe, if we think about it one more day, we will find a much better one.
- This is called the perfect solution fallacy and it prevents us from seeing the effectiveness of the solutions we have at hand.
Flip a coin
When faced with difficult choices, the best advice is to flip a coin.
- Not to let luck decide, but because when the coin is in the air, we will know what we want to get. Get the next article and other critical thinking ideas in your inbox by signing up to our newsletter.
Pilot
Pilot the project as early as possible
- A small qualitative market research (talking to a few potential customers) followed by the launch of a minimum viable product, an imperfect prototype, can bring more valuable information than any analysis made in front of the computer
- The motto is “About the same as the Nike slogan, except with a four-letter word”
Give yourself a deadline
At some point you must decide on one of the options and close the debate (with yourself)
