Which are you? Finicky or Sloppy....

People who weight train can be divided into two groups.
 
Those who are finicky on form and those who are sloppy on form.
 
Finicky form warriors overly criticize everyone. No matter how pristine someone performs a movement, they call out the tiniest thing.
 
The sloppy crowd will do everything in their power to complete a repetition. They may have to contort their body in ridiculous ways, but as long as they get the rep, that's all that matters.

Meeting somewhere between these two extremist crowds is your best bet.
 
Yes, good form is essential when lifting weights. But for the finicky form warriors, we must also realize that perfect form is impossible. Lifting is a skill, and reaching absolute mastery is something even the greats can improve at. Continuously stopping to correct form breaks up rhythm and tempo that’s needed for a good workout.
 
That said, we should strive to get as close to perfect as possible with the exercises we perform.
 
If you can lift a weight with near-perfect form but at a heavier weight, the rep looks sloppy, it just means you are not strong enough for the heavier weight yet. 
 
Lift as heavy as possible but be smart about it. Once your form breaks down, rack the weight. If you did 6 clean reps try to get 7 reps the following week.
 
Remember, we want to target the muscles we are working on. Do not perform ego lifts by using momentum to move the weight.
 
Working on your form in specific movements is extremely important when you start. As you continue to spend more time lifting weights the goal should be to reach mastery and get as close to perfect as possible.
 
From there, the key is slowly adding weight to the movements. There is no rush. Weight lifting is a long term game. Do the movement for your targeted reps but once you notice your form changes and the reps are getting sloppy, it's time to call off on the set.
 
This will ensure you stay injury-free and constantly progress. You'll get stronger, see the changes in your body, and enjoy all the powerful benefits of resistance training.