Inside large organizations, moving the needle requires big moves — big programs, big campaigns, and big acquisitions. As a result, many leaders dismiss small moves as inconsequential. Projects and programs often end up with overly ambitious goals and timelines. Big wins delivered in the short term. Could anything be more challenging?
Why It Matters: Almost every idea for a new product, new process, or new tool is met with the same question — “how will that work at scale?” As if we’re going to go from zero to one hundred on it. As if it were binary. And if it does seem promising at scale, then we default to a scaled implementation. Massive funding, umpteen approvals. Project Managers. Rollout plan. And on and on.
The Big Picture: In a simpler world, that might make sense. But in complex world, things can change rapidly and unexpectedly. Focusing exclusively on scale slows us down, creates risk, and eliminates possibilities.
Bottom-line: A two-hundred-pound stone vs. two hundred one-pound stones. Which is easier to move? Which is riskier to move? Which one can best leverage many hands?
