⚡ Quick Fix (TL;DR)

The Culprit: A button with no transition property changes state instantly, which reads as stiff and unpolished rather than intentional.

The Fix: Add a smooth transition on the properties that change, then define what the hover state actually shifts to – here, a slight lift.

.my-button {
  transition: background-color 0.2s ease, transform 0.2s ease;
}
.my-button:hover {
  transform: translateY(-2px);
}