Progress requires Experimentation
The world’s first railway coach was called the Experiment.
We look back now with 200 years of hindsight and think railways were bound to succeed. But they didn’t know that then but they were willing to give it a go.
The heart of innovation isn’t just technical but a mindset. It’s no good having a great idea if it’s never tested.
Two centuries later, the lesson still holds. As Jonny Mood of the National Audit Office told me on the podcast: you don’t need certainty - or even a positive business case - to experiment.
Listen to Jonny here: https://www.freewheeling.info/the-freewheeling-podcast/jonny-mood
Take Action
If you’re a leader
Create explicit space where experiments are allowed to fail without punishment. Treat misses as data.
If you’re a team member
Spot where small trials could replace endless debate. Suggest an experiment before the meeting ends.