Freewheeling

Someone mentioned freewheeling to me earlier - that’s where you are spinning your wheels but the gears aren’t engaged so you’re just not getting anywhere - and it made me think about momentum in the workplace.

Especially in the context of exemplars and digital transformation, we’re so alert to the need to build and maintain momentum. The strategy is delivery after all. We need to show we can start small as a way of delivering value early and often.

But…while we’re pedalling frantically, are we remembering to check that the gears are engaged? If they’re not, our strength and stamina on the bike doesn’t matter a jot.

Are we savvy enough to create those step-back moments and ask: how much of our energy is translating into movement? If we keep pedalling, will the gears suddenly catch? Or do we need to get off the bike, get out the toolkit, and recalibrate?