A Little Bit Forward

In this episode, Simon explores the challenge of creating shared understanding in a world where people are increasingly seeing different versions of reality. Drawing on the ancient parable of the blind men and the elephant, he reflects on how each of us experiences only part of a larger picture. Simon suggests that the modern workplace faces a similar challenge. As our sources of information becom...

In this episode, Simon explores the idea that some conversations are being held in the wrong timeframe. Drawing on the different perspectives offered by the past, present, and future, he reflects on how each frame shapes the way we approach difficult questions. The past can become a place of blame and finger-pointing as we try to understand who was responsible for what. The present often centres o...

In this episode, Simon explores the idea that not all biases are necessarily bad. Drawing on an article by Dr Tom Stafford from the Reasonable People Substack, he reflects on how biases can sometimes exist for a reason, particularly when they help us avoid worse outcomes. Using the concept of signal detection theory, Simon looks at how decision makers often lean toward one type of error over anoth...

In this episode, Simon explores false deadlines, those artificial timeframes that can stop us from acting on opportunities when it matters most. Inspired by an article from Pollyanna Lenkic and a recent client conversation about a strategic decision-making program, he looks at how these deadlines can delay value, distort priorities, and even lead to missed opportunities, like holding off on cancel...

In this episode, Simon explores our tendency to reduce complex situations into simple yes or no decisions. Binary choices can feel efficient, especially when time and resources are tight, but they often flatten nuance and distort reality. Drawing on examples from decision making in organisations, everyday life, and even political identity, Simon unpacks the difference between discrete choices and...

We’re back with the next episode of A Little Bit Forward , short, five-minute episodes designed to slow you down, interrupt autopilot thinking, and create space for better decisions. In this episode, Simon Waller explores a familiar but often unspoken tension: structural problems being treated with ad hoc solutions. From weekly stand-ups and quarterly reporting to burnout fixes and team-building e...

We’re back with the next episode of A Little Bit Forward , short, five-minute episodes designed to slow you down, interrupt autopilot thinking, and create space for better decisions. In this episode, Simon Waller introduces a deceptively simple question that sits beneath every decision we make at work. How far into the future should we actually be thinking? Drawing on his experience in scenario pl...

We’re back with episode five of A Little Bit Forward — short, five-minute episodes designed to slow you down, unsettle familiar thinking, and create space for better decisions. In this episode, Simon Waller explores a quiet but powerful habit shaping the way we work and lead: the tendency to treat tomorrow as less important than today. Drawing on the concept of “discounting,” he examines how short...

We’re back with episode four of A Little Bit Forward — short, five-minute episodes designed to slow you down, challenge comfortable assumptions, and create space for better thinking. In this episode, Simon Waller asks an uncomfortable question: can doing good work sometimes give us permission to do it badly? Drawing on the public and not-for-profit sectors, he reflects on how purposeful work can q...

We’re back with episode three of A Little Bit Forward — short, five-minute episodes designed to slow you down, challenge familiar ideas, and create space for better thinking. In this episode, Simon Waller takes on one of the most comfortable phrases in organisational life: best practice . He asks a deceptively simple question — is best practice actually good enough? Drawing on real-world experienc...

We’re back for episode two of A Little Bit Forward — short, five-minute episodes designed to wake up your brain, start the new year fresh, and provoke new ways of thinking about the things we usually take for granted. In this episode, Simon Waller takes aim at our growing reliance on mandates in organisations and the public sector. He explores how mandates are often used to create quick action, bu...

As we step into a new year, many of us find ourselves with a little space to pause, reflect, and think about what lies ahead. A Little Bit Forward is a show for that moment. In this first episode, Simon Waller explores the paradox of purposeful work — particularly in the public sector — where good intentions, accountability, and expectations often collide. He examines how the belief that “doing go...

Welcome to A Little Bit Forward — this episode gives you a first look at the show and what it’s all about. In this episode, ⁠⁠Simon Waller⁠⁠ explains why answers matter less than inquiry in complex times. He explores how our focus on productivity and efficiency crowds out reflection, and why the ability to pause and think deeply has become a lost art of leadership. You’ll also hear how the series...