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. And by then? It's often too late.

A REAL-WORLD EXAMPLE

A CFO reached out to one of the teams I worked with wanting 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. 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. The result? The CFO was frustrated, the team spent a week on something unused, and a perception was formed: this team is slow, overly technical, and not responsive to executive needs.

DIRECTIONAL > PERFECT (WHEN THE CLOCK IS TICKING)

The takeaway: when a leader asks for insight, ask one thing immediately if it's not clear: "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. 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.

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, and you'll position yourself as a true business partner — not just a technical expert.