Innovation is often portrayed as a dramatic leap forward—a groundbreaking idea, a disruptive technology, or a revolutionary business model. While these big wins capture headlines, they rarely reflect the day-to-day reality of innovation. Most meaningful progress stems from small, consistent steps that accumulate over time to create lasting impact.
At OSB, we believe in the power of iterative testing. It’s not flashy, but it’s effective. Here’s why right-sizing your problem and focusing on small steps can yield big wins—and how you can adopt this approach in your work.
Why This Approach Works
1. It Lowers the Barrier to Entry
Big ideas can feel overwhelming, often paralyzing teams before they even begin. Right sizing the problem can make it easier and less resource consuming to approach. This allows teams to act quickly, experiment, and build momentum.
2. This Approach Mitigates Risk
Large-scale changes often come with significant uncertainty and risk. Small, iterative improvements let you test ideas in a controlled environment. If something doesn’t work, you haven’t bet the farm—you’ve simply learned what doesn’t work. This is at the heart of our piloting approach to problems both big and small.
3. It Fosters a Culture of Progress
Small wins generate excitement and confidence. Each success, no matter how minor, builds trust in the process and motivates teams to keep innovating. Over time, these small victories create a culture where innovation becomes second nature.
4. They Add Up Over Time
Small steps might not seem transformative in isolation, but their cumulative impact is powerful. Think of compounding interest—it’s the consistent contribution that yields exponential returns.
Select one small piece of a bigger challenge that you can test in a low risk pilot.
How to Start Innovating Today
1. Identify Pain Points: Look for areas where processes are slow, inefficient, or frustrating. These are ripe for improvement. As mentioned above, they don’t have to be massive. Just select one piece of a larger problem that is manageable for you to test.
2. Start with One Change: Choose one manageable step to address the pain point. Avoid the temptation to overhaul everything at once. Start with one small slice of a challenge that you can test.
3. Measure and Reflect: Track the impact of your change. Did it save time, reduce costs, or improve outcomes? Use this data to guide your next step.
4. Celebrate Success: No matter how small, recognize and celebrate progress. This reinforces the value of incremental innovation.
Conclusion
As 2025 ramps up, consider how small steps can drive big wins for your team. Innovation doesn’t have to mean reinventing the wheel. Sometimes, it’s just about making the wheel turn a little more smoothly.
What small step will you take today to spark innovation in your organization?
Written by Odiraa Okala
