Using "Do It Wrong Quickly" to Identify Solutions Quickly

Companies encounter various challenges across departments. In human resource management, over 70% of HR professionals identify people challenges and talent gaps as major obstacles. In change management, 70% of initiatives fail, and 88% of business transformations don’t meet their original goals. Cash flow management is also a concern, with 49% of finance professionals worried about unreliable data.

Overall, 82% of businesses report facing at least one significant challenge each year. The "Do It Wrong Quickly" principle addresses challenges by encouraging project teams to experiment with solutions iteratively, avoiding overanalysis. This approach helps teams try solutions early, learn from mistakes, and adjust swiftly, encouraging quick feedback and adaptability in fast-paced environments.

What if you could turn your biggest challenges into opportunities for growth? Imagine a world where failure isn’t feared but embraced as a stepping stone to success.

1. Clarify the Objective

Before jumping into solutions, make sure your team has a clear understanding of the project’s overall goals. While details aren’t essential at this stage, a high-level view of the problem and desired outcome is crucial.

At the project kickoff, define a clear problem statement. Set a timeline and establish constraints to guide quick iterations, ensuring your team stays focused and moves efficiently toward solutions without unnecessary delays or complications.

2. Prioritise Speed over Perfection

In this approach, your goal is to quickly generate solutions, understanding the first try might be flawed or incomplete. The main idea is that taking action promotes learning and brings valuable insights.

Encourage your team to create rough prototypes, mock-ups, or simple processes to address the problem. Don’t wait for perfection - focus on the “good enough” idea. Use time-boxing by allocating a set time, like 12 hours, for each attempt.

3. Run Small, Quick Experiments

When you have a solution, test it quickly. Run an experiment by applying a small part or trying it in a low-risk environment. This approach helps you gather valuable feedback fast for future adjustments.

Break large tasks into smaller, manageable sub-tasks that you can test individually. For instance, when developing a feature, test one function first before proceeding with the full implementation of the entire feature set.

4. Embrace Failure and Learn

With this approach, expect some failure - it’s completely okay. View each misstep as a chance to learn. Every failure offers insight into what won’t work, guiding you closer to an effective solution.

After each test, gather feedback quickly and reflect on what went wrong. Document the key learnings to help you make improvements and inform the next iteration, ensuring continuous progress and better decision-making in future tests.

"Sometimes big problems are best solved with lots of small and creative solutions." - Ricardo Salinas Pliego

5. Iterate Quickly Based on Feedback

If a solution doesn’t work as expected, quickly revise and try again. Focus on small, incremental improvements rather than starting over entirely, allowing you to adapt effectively without overhauling everything.

After receiving feedback, identify small, manageable tweaks for the next iteration. Use short feedback loops, like daily or bi-weekly check-ins, to enable quick adjustments and keep the project moving forward efficiently and effectively.

6. Keep Communication Open and Fluid

To keep the process moving quickly, maintain open communication with your team. Share findings and updates in real-time to keep everyone aligned, encourage collaboration, and support effective problem-solving as you progress together.

Use tools like Slack, MS Teams, or Trello to monitor and manage ongoing experiments. These platforms help you track progress, outcomes, and updates, ensuring your team stays aligned and informed throughout the process.

7. Encourage a Safe Environment for Experimentation

For this principle to work, you must create an environment where your team feels comfortable experimenting, knowing there are no negative consequences if something fails. Encouraging risk-taking without fear is essential for success.

Create a team culture where mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities, not failures. Lead by example - if you, as the project manager, make a mistake, openly share it, discuss the lessons, and encourage growth through it.

8. Know When to Pause and Reflect

While acting quickly is key, you must also pause periodically to assess overall progress. The "quickly" mindset can dominate, so set regular intervals to reflect, review lessons learned, and ensure alignment with the bigger picture.

After several iterations, hold a brief retrospective meeting to assess what approaches are working. Use this time to identify what needs adjustment and how you can improve the overall strategy for better results moving forward.

"Identify your problems, but give your power and energy to solutions." - Tony Robbins

There are a number of benefits to the 'do it wrong quickly' principle that can help drive project management success. It allows teams to deliver solutions faster by focusing on action rather than lengthy analysis. Regular feedback loops encourage continuous improvement, enabling incremental progress. This adaptability also helps teams to pivot based on real-time feedback, while encouraging engagement and creativity through a culture of experimentation.

However, there are challenges to be aware of when using this approach. Fear of failure can hold team members back, so it's important to emphasise learning over perfection. Regular check-ins help to maintain focus on both short-term and long-term goals. In addition, over-correction can occur if teams make too many changes too quickly, so it's important to track the outcome of each experiment and avoid repeating mistakes.

Are you ready to shift your approach, take bold action, and embrace the power of learning through experimentation? How will you empower your team to move faster, learn more, and ultimately drive success?

Ultimately, the "Do It Wrong Quickly" approach empowers teams to find solutions faster and more efficiently. It encourages a culture of creativity and continuous improvement, where experimentation leads to real-world success. Embrace failure as part of the learning process and iterate with confidence.