When was the last time you experimented with something different in your office? You know, tried something new or tried a new way of doing things? If you are scratching your head trying to think of the last time you tried something different, you are not alone. Embracing experimentation is scary.

Fostering a culture of experimentation at work means getting comfortable with discomfort. It can be intimidating to try out new ideas, especially when there’s a chance they might fail. Success rarely comes on the first attempt. Progress is built on missteps that offer valuable insights and build confidence. In that sense, so-called failures are just stepping stones forward.

A classic example of an experiment leading to a successful company is the creation of 3M’s Post-it Notes. 3M chemist Spencer Silver was experimenting with adhesives and discovered a weak, easily removable glue. Initially, this discovery was intended for another product, but it led to the development of Post-it Notes when another 3M employee, Art Sayer, used it to make temporary bookmarks. The company then tested the concept in a limited market, and its success led to nationwide distribution.

Since its introduction, more than 1 trillion individual Post-it notes have been sold worldwide. Post-it products are sold in more than 100 countries, with 3M selling over 50 billion individual notes per year. Not bad for an experiment.

Unfortunately, not every experiment works, which is why so many people are afraid to try. Experiments can cost companies money and they also require you, as a worker, to go out on a limb. You might be ridiculed for your ideas or your idea might not work out. If you work for an employer that punishes you for ideas that don’t work, it’s time to look for a new job. Employers that embrace experimentation are usually more successful and more fulfilling places to work.

That’s because experimentation allows companies to rapidly test and refine ideas. Instead of relying on gut feelings, companies can use experiments to test hypotheses and see what works in real-time. It allows companies to optimize products and features as well. Experiments can help identify which features are most successful and which need improvement.

Experimentation also helps personalize user experiences. Experimentation allows companies to tailor their offerings to individual users’ preferences and needs. Obviously, experimentation also helps companies maintain a competitive edge. By staying ahead of the curve with experimentation, companies can innovate faster and adapt to changing market conditions.

To help your team embrace experimentation, start by examining your current workplace culture. Where are you playing it safe or defaulting to obvious solutions? If you notice patterns like micromanagement, that could be stifling creativity and discouraging risk-taking.

At officeinsight, we are constantly experimenting and it always pays off, even if we test something that ultimately does not work. Over the last year, we have launched a new website, added recordings of every story so you can listen instead of read, offered rich media advertising with video and audio embeds, created a map of new products at NeoCon and most recently, added two pages at the end of every issue with a complete list of industry podcasts.

We are working hard on other experiments as well, all to make your experience better as a reader and advertiser.

There is a Japanese proverb “Nana korobi, ya oki” which means “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” Experimenting can be messy and sometimes costly, but it is always worth trying.