Theodore Roosevelt once said
“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing.”
That mindset applies directly to engineering leadership. As leaders, our job isn’t just to make perfect decisions, it’s to keep momentum moving forward.
Why Action Beats Inaction
In software development, indecision can stall progress, frustrate teams, and create a culture of hesitation. Paralysis by analysis is real. When leaders hesitate too long, teams spin their wheels, unsure which direction to move. Even making a decision that later proves sub-optimal is often better than letting work grind to a halt.
By prioritizing action over perfection, you send a powerful signal: we’re moving forward, we’ll learn along the way, and we’re not afraid to adjust course.
Example: Moving Forward Despite Disagreement
I once approved a pull request that had some disagreement on the team. It wasn’t that one side was “wrong,” but waiting for unanimous consensus would have delayed progress. The important part was unblocking the team so we could deliver, collect feedback, and learn. That single decision reinforced that we value progress and trust ourselves to refine as we go.
Decisions Aren’t Always Final
Most decisions are reversible. You can roll back code, pivot strategy, or refine processes. Framework or architecture choices are exceptions since they’re harder to undo. But even then, having made a decision and moved forward provides clarity, and clarity is worth a lot more than uncertainty.
Feedback and Reflection
The key to learning from decisions is building in feedback loops. Retrospectives help teams reflect on whether decisions had the intended impact. Personal reflection helps leaders grow in their judgment. The goal isn’t to avoid mistakes, it’s to continuously improve how we respond to them.
When You Feel Stuck
If you catch yourself taking too long to make a decision, recognize it as a signal. Ask yourself: what is the cost of waiting? What could we learn faster if we acted now? Sometimes it helps to set a deadline for making the call, even if you don’t have perfect information. Practicing the habit of prioritizing decisions over waiting builds confidence in your judgment and strengthens your team’s trust in your leadership.
A Leadership Mindset
As an engineering leader, your responsibility isn’t to get every decision right, it’s to keep your team from getting stuck. When in doubt, remember Roosevelt’s words: the worst thing you can do is nothing. Progress creates energy, momentum, and learning opportunities.
Takeaway for Leaders: When facing tough choices, prioritize action. Empower your team to move forward, gather feedback quickly, and refine along the way. Nine times out of ten, progress will beat perfection.
