When we think about career planning, we often jump to the big things.
New job.
New title.
New direction entirely.
And yes, sometimes that’s exactly what’s needed.
But more often, it starts smaller.
The truth is, most career change doesn’t happen in one clean, confident leap.
It’s a series of nudges.
Of questions asked.
Of things tried sometimes quietly, sometimes clumsily, that build clarity over time.
And that’s why Tiny Experiments, a concept I came across in Anne-Laure Cunff’s book “Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World“, really resonated with me.
Instead of rigid goals or five-year plans, she invites us to commit to small actions. Experiments, not outcomes.
Then, reflect.
Learn.
Tweak.
And repeat.
A refreshing alternative to the high-stakes, high-pressure way we usually think about growth.
What does a career experiment look like?
An experiment doesn’t need to be strategic or impressive.
It just needs to be intentional.
It might look like:
- Volunteering for a project outside your usual remit
- Having a coffee chat with someone in a role you’re curious about
- Trialling a new skill on a freelance platform
- Spending 20 minutes a week writing about what energised (or drained) you at work
- Offering to lead a meeting or run a short workshop, just once, to see how it feels
None of these requires a career change.
But each of them offers a signal.
They tell you:
- This gave me energy.
- That felt heavy.
- I want more of this.
- That’s not for me.
And sometimes, that’s exactly the information we need to move forward with confidence.
The mindset shift: from strategy to curiosity
Career development doesn’t need to be linear.
In fact, it rarely is.
What we need more of, especially in fast-paced, ever-changing organisations, is space to explore.
To be allowed to not know yet.
And that’s what small experiments offer us.
Permission to learn, instead of perform.
To try things out, instead of committing immediately.
To hold our next step lightly, rather than grip it tightly.
It’s also a gift we can offer others.
As leaders and managers, one of the most impactful things we can do is create room for our teams to run their own small experiments. To back them as they grow, not just when they’ve arrived.
Why this matters now
At Co-Creation, we’ve seen time and again how powerful these micro-tests can be.
- They build confidence.
- Reduce fear.
- Create visibility.
And slowly but surely, they help people shape careers that feel like a good fit—not just on paper, but in real life.
They’re also a key tool in navigating the uncertainty many of us feel in the current world of work. With AI reshaping roles, hybrid working changing visibility, and wellbeing increasingly interwoven with career satisfaction, linear pathways just don’t make sense for everyone anymore.
But experiments?
Experiments work in uncertainty.
They thrive in ambiguity.
They give us something solid to build from, one small step at a time.
So if you’re feeling stuck, stalled or unsure where your next move might be—
Maybe you don’t need a grand plan.
Maybe all you need…
is a tiny experiment.
And if you’re leading others?
Creating the space for small steps like these might just be one of the most powerful things you can do to support growth—yours and theirs.
At Co-Creation, we’ve seen what happens when people feel safe to explore.
- They become more confident.
- More curious.
- More ready for what’s next, even if they don’t know exactly what that is yet.
Because careers aren’t built overnight.
They’re shaped, slowly, by what we choose to try.
If you’re looking to build a culture where career growth feels less like a leap and more like a series of supported steps—we’d love to help you explore what that could look like in your world. Please contact us to arrange a chat. Call: 0161 969 2512, or email: info@Co-Creation.Group.
