Jeff Bezos, CEO at Amazon, has famously said, “It’s not an experiment if you know how it’s going to turn out.”
Experimenting as a leader and manager – trying out projects, products, programs, systems, and theories – is a necessary tool to build great and enduring organizations. Yet leaders often fail to test their theories, programs, and ideas “off Broadway”, instead choosing to lurch from one extreme idea to the other.
Often we are tempted to do the following:
– Follow untested fads.
– Go big on an idea without first trying it in small doses.
– Put our teams through change before first trying it ourselves.
– “Bet the farm” on an idea without doing small, measured roll-outs.
Personally, I love experimenting with ideas, concepts and programs in small, personal ways. It keeps me fresh, makes sure I’m learning and growing, and ensures I understand potential obstacles to success if the ideas go to a bigger stage.
Leaders like Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos and others have made experimentation a regular part of their strategy to keep their companies growing, fresh and flexible.
Do you like to experiment as a leader? If so, what are some things you’ve learned along the way that could help us all as we move forward? I’d love to hear your ideas.
David Curry