No Apologies for Experiments
June 7, 2025Tags: careers
Recently, a former apprentice of mine reached out with an apology. They’d joined a new team, embarked on an experiment, and the results weren’t what they’d hoped for. “I’m so sorry it failed,” they said. My immediate thought was, “Why are you apologizing?” And that got me thinking about the true nature of experiments and why we often misunderstand their purpose.
What Exactly Makes an Experiment an Experiment?
At its core, an experiment isn’t just “trying something new.” It’s a structured inquiry designed to test a hypothesis. Think of it this way:
- A Clear Question: What are you trying to learn? (e.g., “Will Feature X increase user engagement by Y%?”)
- A Testable Hypothesis: A proposed answer to that question that you can prove or disprove. (e.g., “We believe introducing Feature X will lead to a 15% increase in daily active users.”)
- Defined Variables: What are you changing, and what are you measuring?
- Expected Outcomes (and Acceptance Criteria): What would success look like, and what data would tell you that? Equally important, what would indicate that the experiment isn’t working as hypothesized?
Without these elements, you’re not conducting an experiment; you’re just… doing stuff. And while “doing stuff” can sometimes lead to serendipitous discoveries, a well-designed experiment is a powerful tool for intentional learning.
Assessing the Risks: A Crucial First Step
Before you even start an experiment, a critical step is assessing the risks. This isn’t about fear; it’s about preparation and responsible innovation.
- What’s the worst-case scenario if this experiment doesn’t go as planned?
- What resources (time, money, people) are we willing to invest, knowing they might not yield the desired outcome?
- Are there any ethical considerations?
Understanding these risks early on helps you make an informed decision about whether to proceed. Sometimes, the potential downsides outweigh the potential learning, and that’s okay. Deciding not to run an experiment because the risks are too high is a sign of good judgment, not a lack of courage.
Experiments Are for Trying Things Out (Seriously!)
This might seem obvious, but it bears repeating: the primary purpose of an experiment is to try things out. It’s a controlled environment to explore an idea, gather data, and gain insights. It’s about venturing into the unknown with a plan to learn, regardless of the direct outcome.
Think of it as scientific exploration. When a scientist conducts an experiment, they don’t know the answer beforehand. They have a hypothesis, they run the test, and they observe. The value is in the observation and the learning derived from it, not solely in proving the initial guess correct.
Outcomes Are Not Guaranteed (and That’s the Point!)
This is perhaps the most crucial point: outcomes in experiments are never guaranteed. If they were, it wouldn’t be an experiment; it would be a demonstration. The beauty and value of an experiment lie precisely in this uncertainty.
When an experiment doesn’t yield the “successful” outcome you initially envisioned, it doesn’t mean it “failed.” It means you’ve gathered incredibly valuable data. You’ve learned:
- What doesn’t work (which is just as important as what does).
- New information that can inform your next hypothesis.
- Unexpected challenges or opportunities you hadn’t considered.
This “negative” result narrows down the possibilities, steers you away from dead ends, and ultimately guides you toward more effective solutions in the future.
There’s No Need to Apologize for a “Failed” Experiment
So, to my former apprentice and to anyone else who has ever felt the need to apologize for an experiment that didn’t go as planned: please don’t.
Embrace the results, analyze the data, and celebrate the learning. Every experiment, regardless of its immediate outcome, contributes to knowledge. It pushes boundaries, refines understanding, and paves the way for true innovation.
The only real “failure” in an experiment is not learning from it. So, let’s reframe our thinking. Instead of apologizing for a “failed” experiment, let’s celebrate the brave individuals who dare to try, who embrace uncertainty, and who bring back invaluable insights, no matter what the outcome.
Bonus: Teaching Kids about Experiments
This one is for the parents of little ones out there - especially in the K-2nd grade range. Pirate, Viking & Scientist by Jared Chapman was my favorite kids’ book that contains the word “hypothesis” for those at a young age. New vocabulary, new concepts… and a fun, relatable storyline! Watch the Read Aloud version of Pirate, Viking and Scientist from Story Shark!