There is a limited amount of energy within any organization. This energy determines whether people are willing to take risks. If employees don’t believe that taking a risk will improve their standing or provide a meaningful reward, they won’t take it. Instead, an infinite amount of low-impact, “safe” work will fill their time and consume their energy.

There is a common delusion that if people are busy working, they are contributing. However, true contribution often stems from taking calculated risks.

Why should they take the risk? It is often more rational for employees to focus on small, low-stakes tasks than to take on challenges that push boundaries. Why should they bother improving software performance, for example, when the most frequent requests they receive are related to minor UI changes? The former carries a higher risk of failure and is technically more demanding, while the latter is easier to achieve and often more visible, making it seem more rewarding.