⭐LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES⭐
Oscar Wilde famously said that experience is just another name for the mistakes we make. This rings true, as long as we learn from those mistakes. In today's increasingly unpredictable world of constant change, information overload, multiculturalism, and technological disruption, mistakes are inevitable.
Most people dislike making errors, but management expert Tom Peters argues in his book Thriving on Chaos that we can't afford perfectionism. The quickest way to find solutions is through rapid testing, making mistakes, learning, and adjusting. He advocates that we embrace and even celebrate mistakes as opportunities for growth. He thinks we should become "mistake maniacs".
It's worth remembering that many discoveries and inventions have happened by accident. In the early 1970s, Arthur Fry wanted a bookmark for his church hymnal that wouldn't fall out or damage the pages. His colleague at 3M, Spencer Silver, had developed an adhesive that wasn't strong enough to stick two surfaces together (as planned) but left no residue after removal and allowed items to be repositioned. Fry put some of Silver's adhesive along the edge of a piece of paper. His church hymnal problem was solved, and the Post-it note was invented.
Viagra was originally developed to treat cardio-vascular problems. In testing, it must have become (very) clear that it wasn't just the heart that was affected.
And the famous inventor Thomas Edison made thousands of failed prototypes of his electric light bulb before finally succeeding. When asked why he hadn't given up, he explained that each failure had taught him something he needed to know for the next attempt. Edison was clearly a mistake maniac.
⭐Turn mistakes into experience⭐
When you make a mistake, admit it as soon as you can first to yourself and then to others. The sooner you accept that a mistake has happened, and take responsibility for it, the sooner you can start learning from it.
2. Analyse and get feedback
Study where you went wrong, so you'll know what to do differently next time. It can help you in identifying solutions to future problems, too. It's helpful to get feedback from trusted colleagues. A mentor can give you advice on how they've managed similar situations.
3. Find the lesson to be learned
Keep a diary. Record your mistake along with your analysis and the feedback you received. Then, make a plan with specific steps to prevent the same mistake from happening again.
Some organizations have online mistake diaries that everyone can contribute to, in which mistakes and their solutions are posted.
4. Check your learning progress
Use a simple learning checklist at regular intervals to help you learn from these experiences.
Develop a learning mindset and be prepared to take some risks. Prioritize where you want to develop, concentrating on one thing at a time. Put time aside for your learning. Share your goals with someone you trust, so they can encourage and support you. A mistake maniac is ultimately a lifelong learner.
I'm afraid that was my fault.
My approach to the problem was wrong.
I'm sorry but I messed up there.
2. Analyse and get feedback
Let's see what went wrong in the process.
I think I understand where I made an error.
Where do you think the mistake was made?
3. Find the lesson to be learned
I can see where I need to improve.
I've made an action plan to make sure this doesn't happen again.
I don't intend to make the same mistake twice.
4. Check your learning progress
Have I reached my learning goals?
I carry out a self-check on my progress at regular intervals.
I need to check whether my approach is working.
Have a look and tell me if
you think these goals are practical.
I've allocated time each week for learning.
reached the learning goals I wanted to reach by this time?
clarified my learning targets for the next six months?
taken steps to improve how I manage my time for learning?
thought about things I haven't enjoyed doing and/or have not done well and considered how?
I might handle such things in the future?
thought about things I have enjoyed doing and/or have done well?
done anything specific to keep up to date?
concentrated on how to improve in the future?
learned something new about myself?
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Source: Business Spotlight
