Good Systems · public information library

What can I do at work to help someone when they keep moving the goalposts after they meet them?

People come here to understand why something in everyday life feels harder, different or more costly than it should — and what might make it work better.

Short answer

Keep the original success measure visible when work keeps expanding.

What this can look like

Scope can grow after every review until the original goal disappears.

Why it can happen

A project can become stuck when every completed requirement reveals another possible improvement. Revisit the brief, user need and marginal value of more work.

What might help

Keep the agreed outcome visible and require a decision before adding work.

What the research helps explain

Research and public guidance describe perfectionism and overcontrol by their impact on finishing, flexibility, relationships and quality of life. In a workplace, clear standards, proportionate quality controls and fair management are useful without deciding whether an employee has OCD, OCPD, anxiety or another experience.

What can vary

The same behaviour can have different meanings in different work contexts. Do not diagnose employees, request private medical information or make support conditional on disclosure. Focus on task demands, impact and a workable agreement.

For this situation

For you, decide who can change scope and what evidence is needed to do so.

More info and original sources

Poko summarises the relevance of public original sources and links out for anyone who wants to read more.