This summer, I’ve been chasing bass along the Devon coastline.
Not just casting in the same spot with the same lure, but switching marks, different states of tide, trolling versus drifting, adjusting retrieve speeds, swapping colours and styles of lure.
Every change, whether it brought a hit or an empty line is a data point. The more loops I ran, the faster I learned what worked in that moment.
It’s the same in business. And with the insane level of tools available via AI it matters now more than it’s ever mattered before.
The winners will be the ones who run the fastest learning cycles.
Whether you’re fishing or leading a team, the loop is the same:
1. Frame. Define an outcome and success metric.
2. Act small. Run the smallest test possible to learn something useful.
3. Show evidence. Share results openly, focusing on what surprised you.
4. Rapid Iteration. Double down on what’s working, drop what’s not.
As McKinsey said recently, the pace of change will never be this slow again.
Creating a culture of learning has never been more important.
In the next section of this newsletter, I’ll share fresh Harvard Business Review research showing why shortening learning cycles is now the single most important driver of adaptability and innovation.
The Science Behind the Big Idea 🧑🔬
Your Team’s Speed of Learning Matters More Than Ever
It’s one thing to talk about learning fast—it’s another to build it into the DNA of your team.
Recent research from Harvard Business Review (July 14 2025) found that the most innovative teams don’t treat learning as a background activity. They follow predictable, structured learning cycles. Periods dedicated to exploration, followed by intentional reflection before the next wave of action. This rhythm eliminates the chaos of ad-hoc experimentation, keeps teams aligned, and ensures insights are captured and acted on quickly.
The payoff? Higher adaptability, faster innovation, and less wasted effort. In short, when learning is baked into your operating system, the best ideas rise faster and get implemented sooner.
Pithy takeaway: Innovate smarter, not harder, build learning in cycles, not chaos.
Read the full HBR article → https://hbr.org/2025/07/new-research-on-the-link-between-learning-and-innovation?utm_source=chatgpt.com