Long long ago, chariots & wagons pulled by horses were the mode of transport. Over time, those roads developed deep ruts. If a wagon’s wheels did not fit the ruts, they broke, so wagon makers kept the same distance between wheels. The distance between the wheels was not some great maths, it was simply wide enough for two horses to run side by side. Overtime, that width simply became the standard – 4 feet 8.5 inches.

When railways were invented centuries later, engineers reused existing designs and tools, so the distance between train wheels followed the distance between wagon wheels. As railways expanded, that spacing became a standard – 4 feet 8.5 inches.

Much later, in the space age, the Space Shuttle’s solid rocket boosters (SRBs) were built in Utah and shipped by train to Florida. Their size was limited by railway tunnels and tracks, which were limited by a wheel distance set long ago for wagons – ‘4 feet 8.5 inches’ – the width of two horses’ back. I wonder if horses should charge for their contribution to the world’s space program 😀

And, this is also how culture works. What began as practical choices slowly hardens into “the way things are done.” Over time, those choices become invisible rules that shape decisions, behaviour, and even ambition, long after the original reason has disappeared.

A couple of questions for the leaders to consider:

  • Which ways of working are you holding on to out of habit rather than choice?
  • What assumptions from the past are quietly shaping your decisions today?
  • How are today’s systems shaping your organization’s future?