Failure is the Foundation for Continuous Improvement

Failure hurts but it is the start of learning.

Summer is slowly winding down and children are heading back to school.  I find this time of year wistful.  I remember being driven down to college for my first semester away from home.  We were listening to an oldies station, and Arlo Guthrie was crooning, “The City of New Orleans.”   I still get emotional when I hear that song.  Being a university student changed me in ways big and small.  The most significant way was how; it pushed me beyond my comfort zones.  Being in college taught me about failure and learning.  The business community enjoys talking about winning and success.  I feel we need to take a more in-depth look at failure and how it is essential to continuous improvement and learning. 

The current political and social environment is depressing for too many reasons to mention.  One of the primary reason for this is the fetishization of achievement among business professionals.  We have to win at work, at life and our children have to be examples of our winning nature.  If you are labeled a “loser,” you are confronted with public shame or possible ostracism. People wanting to avoid this fate play it safe, doing just enough to get by and avoid making waves. It creates a feedback loop of mediocrity in organizations.

The fear of failure is a significant obstacle for continuous improvement.  The shame and stigma associated with failure often cause people to hide it so they can avoid blame.  As a coach, it is your responsibility to create an environment where people feel safe and admit mistakes.  Once it is possible to admit failure, then the team can examine what happened.  Reflections make it possible for the team to learn from failure and overcome their disadvantages.  The process is humbling, but if done correctly, it is going to create levels of competence and confidence, which will be the envy of other development teams.

I suggest to start with small improvements and then work your way up to more significant corrections.  Start with insisting that meetings begin on time.  Ask about what kinds of things are holding back the teams.  Take time out to listen to how people do work and how they want to improve.  Talking and listening is the best way to beat the feedback loop of mediocrity in organizations.  Give it a try, and you will see that failure is an organic matter where success will grow. 

Until next time.