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Differences that change the conversation

That’s unrealistic

Experience and experimentation

Anna quickly dismisses Olek’s idea as unrealistic. Experience protects against risk, but it can also stop a safe test before any evidence appears.

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Olek, seated in his wheelchair, shows Anna a sketch of a simplified process while she assesses it cautiously.
What if the user could do this without the whole process?
Anna rejects the proposal with a firm gesture while Olek withdraws from the conversation.
That’s unrealistic. We have requirements, security and deadlines.
Okay.
A disappointed Olek closes the sketchbook on his lap while Anna stands beside him.
No point taking this any further.
One month later, Anna notices a competing product on screen using a similar simplification.
So it was possible.
Anna asks Olek about a small test, and he shows a prototype on his laptop with renewed energy.
What’s the smallest test that would tell us whether this works?
I can have a prototype tomorrow.
Em, the Empatyzer coach
Anna uses experience to protect the company from risk quickly, while Olek needs room to test a new path. As a result, her thats unrealistic’ can stop not only a bad idea but also the evidence that would reveal whether it was actually bad. Instead of closing an idea with a verdict, define the smallest safe test, its cost and a stop condition.