I've always been fascinated by the idea of self-optimization. As a project manager, I found myself wondering: what if I applied the scientific method to my own career?

Could I run experiments on myself?

In research and statistics, n=1 refers to a sample size of one - meaning a study or observation that involves just a single subject, case, or data point.

I decided to give it a go.

Let’s look at a few things I tried. And why you should try them too.

1. The Question-Solution Balance

The Experiment: Don’t tell them how to do it, ask them how they would do it. The next time your team have a question or problem that needs solving, see what happens if the solution doesn’t come immediately from you. Lead them through how they might solve it themselves.

What You Might Learn:

• Your team are smart and can solve issues independently

• Whether you're more energized by guiding others or solving problems directly

• Insight into whether your own personality allows you to let loose of total control

• Hidden assumptions in your thinking process

Unexpected Benefits: You might discover that your preferred style isn't actually your most effective one. Many people who think they're "natural problem solvers" find unexpected joy and success in a questioning approach, while self-proclaimed "coaches" sometimes learn they create more value through occasional direct intervention. It might be slower at first, but you may also find that your team love an increased sense of autonomy. You might even learn things you never would have figured out alone.

2. Feedback Patterns

The Experiment: Try different methods of giving and receiving feedback to your team: written, verbal one-on-one, and group settings.

What You Might Learn:

• Your emotional resilience in different contexts

• Which method gets the best results with different team members

• Your natural communication strengths

• Your ability to separate personal feelings from professional feedback

Hidden Insights: Many discover that their preferred way of receiving feedback differs from their most effective way of giving it. This awareness can transform your professional relationships with your team as well as teach you more about yourself. More emotional awareness is never a bad thing.

3. Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Work

The Experiment: Dedicate different weeks to primarily real-time versus asynchronous communication. Schedule live calls for one week and allow only pre-recorded video/audio feedback for the next week.

What You Might Learn:

• Whether your energy levels change when you interact more/less with others

• How you process information most effectively

• Whether you communicate more effectively in real time or when making a recording

• Whether you and your team really need immediate feedback to function

• If your efficiency changes when you change the way you communicate

Surprising Discoveries: People often find that their preference for "collaborative work" might actually be masking a need for constant validation, or that their desire for "independent work" might be hiding communication anxieties. You will also be interested to figure out how your energy levels and productivity are affected by different communication methods.

4. Time Structure Exploration

The Experiment: Compare strict time-blocking with open, flexible scheduling.

What You Might Learn:

• Your natural energy patterns throughout the day

• How structure affects your creativity

• Your true productivity rhythms

• Your ability to estimate task duration

• The role of boundaries in your work satisfaction

Unexpected Value: Many discover that their perceived need for flexibility or structure was based on habit rather than effectiveness. Some "structure lovers" find creative breakthroughs in flexible time, while "free spirits" discover peace in routine.

5. Work Session Rhythms

The Experiment: Test different work/rest patterns: short sprints versus longer deep work sessions. Try working for 4-5 hours straight. Then try working in 30 minute sprints followed by rests. See what is best for you.

What You Might Learn:

• Your optimal focus duration

• How different tasks require different rhythms

• Your true recovery needs

• The relationship between intensity and sustainability in your work

• Your ability to maintain quality over different time spans

Hidden Benefits: This experiment often reveals that our "usual" work rhythm isn't our most effective one, and that different types of work demand different patterns.

6. Location Independence

The Experiment: Work from different environments: home, office, coffee shops, co-working spaces.

What You Might Learn:

• Your environmental sensitivity

• How different spaces affect your creativity and focus

• Your true social needs during work

• The role of movement and change in your productivity

• Your ability to adapt to different work contexts

Surprising Insights: Many discover that their ideal work environment varies by task type, and that what they think they want in a workspace isn't what they actually need to perform their best. Maybe you do admin best in a more chaotic co-working space. Maybe for deep work you need to be truly alone and not in the office? You won’t know until you try.

7. Time Flexibility

The Experiment: Compare fixed versus flexible hours. Try a few weeks of a 9-5. Then try a different schedule. 5am - 9am? Then midday until 3pm? Maybe even some evening work? Or less hours in the week plus a few hours on the weekend? See what works best? Everyone has a different life and ideal schedule.

What You Might Learn:

• Your natural productivity patterns

• How structure affects your work-life balance

• Your self-discipline levels

• The role of social accountability in your productivity

• Your true time management skills

• The schedule that makes you happiest

Unexpected Revelations: People often discover that their preference for early mornings or late nights isn't about productivity at all, but about other factors like quiet time or social pressure. Psychology is a big part of why we do what we do.

Making These Experiments Work

Key Principles:

1. Document everything - insights come from patterns

2. Be honest about what you observe, not what you wish you observed

3. Give each experiment enough time to get past the novelty phase

4. Pay attention to both performance and personal satisfaction

5. Consider energy levels as much as productivity

Getting Started:

• Choose one experiment that addresses a current challenge

• Set a specific timeframe (usually a few weeks minimum)

• Define what success looks like for you

• Keep a simple daily journal of observations

• Review and reflect weekly

The Real Value:

The true benefit of these experiments isn't just finding your optimal work style - it's the deep self-knowledge you gain along the way. You might discover:

• Your actual social needs versus what you think they are

• How you really handle autonomy and responsibility

• Your natural leadership tendencies

• What truly energizes and drains you

• The difference between your habits and your preferences

This knowledge is invaluable not just for your current role, but for every career decision ahead. It helps you:

• Make more informed career choices

• Design better work environments

• Negotiate more meaningful work arrangements

• Lead others with greater empathy

• Create sustainable work practices

Remember: There are no universal "best practices" - only practices that best suit you, your work, and your goals at this moment. The key is to keep experimenting, observing, and learning.

What will you discover about yourself?