Why Speed Requires New Skills

Thank you for reading my latest article Why Speed Requires New Skills

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This week, I experienced something that fundamentally changed my perspective on capability and skill: taking my car to a professional racing track for the first time.

The experience was both exhilarating and humbling. It revealed a truth that extends far beyond driving: just because you can handle something in a controlled, familiar environment doesn't mean you're ready when the constraints are removed.

When I first pulled onto the track I felt confident. After all, I've been driving for years. I know how to handle a powerful car on public roads. But within the first few turns, with zero guidance you’re left to your own devices to work out the racing line and where to start braking at the end of the start/finish line straight at 180km.

With no instructors to guide me, I was free to make every possible mistake—and I probably did. Meanwhile, I observed other drivers executing perfect turns with precision that clearly came from on-track experience.

The Digital Transformation Parallel

This experience mirrors what I've observed with many organizations undertaking digital transformation initiatives. Companies invest millions moving from legacy systems to cutting-edge platforms, yet continue to work exactly as they did before.

Just like my initial track experience, they've removed the restrictions but haven't adapted their approach to capitalise on the new capabilities.

When organisations migrate from legacy systems to cloud environments, they often:

1. Lift and shift existing processes without reimagining them
2. Maintain old workflows that were designed around previous constraints
3. Underutilise the new technology's capabilities
4. Miss opportunities for innovation and competitive advantage

The results are predictable: underwhelming returns on investment, frustrated teams, and leadership wondering why their digital transformation isn't delivering the promised value.

Flying Blind on the Track

What made my experience even more challenging was the complete lack of instruction. Unlike many first-timers who receive coaching, I was left entirely to my own devices—trying to figure out racing lines, braking points, and corner approaches through pure trial and error.

I watched other drivers, some clearly experienced, confidently taking the perfect line through corners while I struggled to understand the basics. They had the knowledge I lacked—the fundamental principles that made the difference between merely driving fast and truly racing.

This gap reminded me of Claude, a colleague who once said: "The most dangerous moment is when you don't know what you don't know." On the track, I was experiencing this truth in real time, trying to interpret a language I'd never been taught.

Without guidance, I was essentially attempting to reinvent racing techniques that others had spent years mastering. This represents another powerful parallel to digital transformation—organizations often deploy new technologies without proper guidance, expecting teams to somehow intuitively understand how to leverage them effectively.

The Path to Performance

By the end of the day, I had made some progress through sheer persistence and observation. I was nowhere near the level of the experienced drivers who effortlessly navigated the track with precision and confidence. They knew exactly what they were doing—when to brake, how to apex, where to position their cars—while I was still figuring out the basics through educated guesswork.

For data leaders, the path to realising value from new technology investments follows a similar trajectory:

1. Acknowledge the need for new approaches—recognise that the old ways of working won't maximise new technology
2. Learn from experts—engage with partners who understand how to leverage modern capabilities
3. Develop new skills—invest in training and enablement beyond just the technical aspects
4. Practice and iterate—create space for teams to experiment and refine new approaches
5. Measure performance improvements—track progress using metrics aligned with business outcomes

The Reward Is Worth It

As the evening ended and I pulled my car back into the paddock, I felt I had learnt a lot and built confidence lap after lap through sheer trial and error. I certainly hadn’t mastered the track—far from it—but it was a great experience which challenged my assumptions and expanded my capabilities.

The same satisfaction awaits organisations that don't just migrate to new technologies but truly transform how they work. The difference between merely adopting new tools and learning to leverage them effectively is the difference between disappointment and breakthrough.

When I return to the track, I'll bring not just my Mustang, but a new mindset. And when businesses truly embrace transformation, they bring not just new technology, but new ways of working that unlock its full potential.

After all, the car isn't the limiting factor—it's the driver. And the technology isn't the constraint—it's how we use it.

What transformation are you facing where you might be applying old thinking to new capabilities? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

To stay up to date with the latest business and tech trends in data and analytics, make sure to subscribe to my newsletter, follow me on LinkedIn, and YouTube, and, if you’re interested, stay ahead in the tech job market with my latest book, Future-Proof: Navigating the Next Generation Tech Job Landscape. I break down how emerging technologies like quantum computing and AI will reshape the industry. Get your copy here on Amazon.

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About Adam Morton

Adam Morton is an experienced data leader and author in the field of data and analytics with a passion for delivering tangible business value. Over the past two decades Adam has accumulated a wealth of valuable, real-world experiences designing and implementing enterprise-wide data strategies, advanced data and analytics solutions as well as building high-performing data teams across the UK, Europe, and Australia.?

Adam’s continued commitment to the data and analytics community has seen him formally recognised as an international leader in his field when he was awarded a Global Talent Visa by the Australian Government in 2019.

Today, Adam is dedicated to helping his clients to overcome challenges with data while extracting the most value from their data and analytics implementations. You can find out more information by visiting his website here.

He has also developed a signature training program that includes an intensive online curriculum, weekly live consulting Q&A calls with Adam, and an exclusive mastermind of supportive data and analytics professionals helping you to become an expert in Snowflake. If you’re interested in finding out more, check out the latest Mastering Snowflake details.