A Little Bit Forward

Simon Waller

A Little Bit Forward is not really a podcast in the traditional sense. There are no guests, no advice, and no tidy answers. But let's face it, although we crave advice and answers they are rarely fulfilling, they often just reinforce whatever it is you want to hear. So instead of answers I'm offering questions. These questions are intended to be a little bit forward, a little bit challenging, perhaps bordering on controversial. Not because I want to court controversy but because controversy suggests there isn't broad agreement and there is potentially something to be learned.

Episodes

  1. 18h ago

    Episode 11 | Are some conversations better in the future?

    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 on action, but can also be dominated by self-preservation and concerns about how decisions will affect us personally. The future, however, offers something different. It is a space of possibility. A space that is imagined rather than fixed. Research suggests that when we think five to seven years ahead, we begin to view that future almost from a third-person perspective. The blame, defensiveness, and self-protection that can accompany difficult conversations often start to dissolve, creating room for different kinds of discussions and different kinds of answers. Simon also introduces the futurist practice of back-casting. If we can imagine the future we want to create, we can then work backwards to identify the actions we need to take today. The question for reflection is this: What difficult conversations are you currently having that might be better had in the future? Are those conversations focused on the past, the present, or the possibilities of the future? As always, the episode closes with five minutes of silence. Time to sit with the question, notice what comes up, and gently move A Little Bit Forward.

    9 min

  2. Mar 5

    Episode 10 | Where you are more biased than average?

    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 another when the consequences are uneven. In some situations, being biased toward a false positive can actually be safer than risking a false negative. This reframes bias not just as a flaw in thinking, but as something connected to the outcomes we are trying to avoid. This also raises a more personal question. Many of us are familiar with the “I’m not biased” bias, the belief that while others may be biased, we are less so. But statistically, that cannot be true for everyone. The question for reflection is this: What is the bias where you are more biased than average? And what outcome might that bias be trying to protect or create? As always, the episode closes with five minutes of silence. Time to sit with the question, notice what comes up, and gently move a little bit forward. Show notes: You can find Dr Tom Stafford’s original article ⁠here⁠.

    11 min

  3. Feb 25

    Episode 9 | Are False Deadlines Driving Your Decisions?

    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 cancelling unnecessary projects or missing out on hiring a standout candidate. The question for reflection is simple but powerful: Where in your organisation are you either implementing false deadlines or being constrained by them, and what are the negative implications? How might they lead to misalignment or poor behaviors when we stick to the deadline instead of making the right decision at the right time? As always, the episode closes with five minutes of silence. Time to sit with the question, notice what comes up, and gently move a little bit forward. Show notes: You can find Pollyanna’s original article here.

    9 min

  4. Feb 10

    Episode 8 | Binary vs Continuous Decisions

    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 continuous ones. From A, B or C, to infinite shades of possibility, the episode examines how oversimplification can create unnecessary conflict and cause us to miss opportunities for common ground. The question for reflection is simple, but not easy. Where in your work or life are you treating people, problems, or decisions as binary when they are actually far more nuanced? And what might become possible if you allowed for more range, more texture, and more “shades of purple”? As always, the episode closes with five minutes of silence. Time to sit with the question, notice what comes up, and gently move a little bit forward.

    11 min

  5. Feb 3

    Episode 7 | Treating structural problems with ad hoc solutions

    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 exercises, Simon examines how organisations are structurally set up to think short term, even while making decisions with years or decades of impact. Drawing on examples from strategic thinking, safety systems, and even flood mitigation, this episode challenges the habit of applying quick fixes to deep, systemic issues. Five minutes. One question.

    11 min

  6. Jan 29

    Episode 6 | The half-life of decisions

    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 planning and large-scale investment decisions, Simon explores the idea of the “half-life” of a decision. The point at which its value should begin to outweigh its cost. From billion-dollar infrastructure investments to everyday leadership choices like hiring, this episode reframes strategy as a matter of time horizons. Not every decision needs a 20-year view. But many need more than the next quarter. When leaders mismatch the importance of a decision with the timeframe they’re considering, short-term thinking quietly shapes long-term outcomes. This episode invites you to reflect on the decisions you’re making regularly, and the future they are really designed for. What period of time captures most of the impact you are responsible for, and are you giving it enough attention? Five minutes. One question.A deliberate pause to recalibrate how you think about the future, and move a little bit forward.

    10 min

  7. Jan 15

    Episode 5 | Are you discounting tomorrow?

    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-term thinking becomes normalised — even rewarded — in our organisations and systems. Through a blend of economic thinking, cultural reflection, and practical insight, this episode questions whether our obsession with immediacy, productivity, and the present moment is distorting how we value future outcomes. What happens when urgency consistently outranks longevity? And what might change if tomorrow mattered just as much, or more, than today? This isn’t about abandoning action. It’s about noticing where short-term decisions quietly undermine long-term impact, and whether our assumptions about time are really serving the work we care about. Five minutes. One question.A deliberate pause to think differently — and move, just a little bit forward.

    10 min

  8. Jan 12

    Episode 4 | Is it okay to do good badly?

    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 quietly lower expectations around effectiveness, accountability, and performance. Through a personal story and a closer look at the systems and norms around “good” work, this episode challenges the idea that intent alone is enough. If the work truly matters, shouldn’t it demand more from us — not less? This isn’t about questioning dedication. It’s about examining outcomes, noticing where standards slip, and asking whether moral purpose should drive excellence rather than excuse mediocrity. Five minutes. One idea. A small pause to think more deeply — and move, just a little bit forward.

    12 min

  9. Jan 7

    Episode 3 | Is best practice good enough?

    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 experience, Simon explores how “best practice” is often self-proclaimed, copied without context, and applied in complex systems where it simply doesn’t belong. What works in one place, at one time, for one group of people, can quietly fail somewhere else — sometimes with serious consequences. This episode isn’t about finding a better model to copy. It’s about questioning our reliance on shortcuts, noticing where we trade understanding for convenience, and considering what that costs us over time. Five minutes. One idea. A small pause to think more deeply — and move, just a little bit forward.

    11 min

  10. Jan 5

    Episode 2 | Are mandates ever legitimate?

    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, but can just as easily shut down engagement, curiosity, and genuine commitment. Using familiar examples, Simon invites listeners to pause and notice where “being told” replaces real understanding — and what that costs us in the long run. This episode isn’t about answers, but about questioning the tools we reach for most readily, and whether they really move us forward. Five minutes. One idea. A small nudge to think differently — and move, just a little bit forward.

    9 min

  11. Jan 1

    Episode 1 | What is the value you are creating?

    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 good” work is enough can quietly lead to complacency, lower standards, and even mediocrity. Drawing on ideas from social identity theory, Simon invites listeners to look beyond intent and consider what really matters in meaningful work. This opening episode sets the tone for a series that isn’t about easy answers, but about challenging assumptions and moving, thoughtfully, a little bit forward.

    10 min

  12. 12/17/2025

    Episode 0 | Why A Little Bit Forward?

    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 works, why the episodes are short, and why silence is deliberately built in at the end. A Little Bit Forward is for people who sense that the questions we’re asking at work — and in leadership — are often too small, too safe, or too rushed. It’s for those who want to think more deeply about how decisions are made, how meaning is created, and how progress actually happens. The show has now launched, so once you’ve listened to this introduction, you can continue straight on to the other episodes. Each one offers a small provocation — not to give you answers, but to help you think a little more clearly, and move a little bit forward.

    2 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

A Little Bit Forward is not really a podcast in the traditional sense. There are no guests, no advice, and no tidy answers. But let's face it, although we crave advice and answers they are rarely fulfilling, they often just reinforce whatever it is you want to hear. So instead of answers I'm offering questions. These questions are intended to be a little bit forward, a little bit challenging, perhaps bordering on controversial. Not because I want to court controversy but because controversy suggests there isn't broad agreement and there is potentially something to be learned.

Information

  • Creator
    Simon Waller
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Simon Waller
  • Show Website
    A Little Bit Forward