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Want Them to Learn Quickly? Let Them Make Mistakes
Jul 2Failure is a great teacher.
That’s the summary of recent research by scientists at the University of Exeter. That has some interesting implications in this “self esteem movement” era, when people are not allowed to fail. If you want people to learn something quickly, let them fail quickly. Then get on with it.
About the Author
Frank Roche
Frank started IFRACTAL over 7 years ago with Sarah Chambers. Together, they've created HR communications and HR software for some of the world's leading companies. Frank is also studying Flamenco guitar and origami.
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Actually it’s experience that’s the great teacher. You try something. It works or it doesn’t and you learn from that. The real issue is that you can’t learn much if you don’t try stuff.
Wally, that’s even more to the point. Experience is a great teacher.
In our company we hire many recruiters who don’t have experience recruiting and teach them how. I firmly believe that in any leadership role you cannot be afraid to let people make mistakes. I agree with Wally and Frank on that. In fact, in building a business or a department, if you don’t delegate and allow for failures you will always be held hostage by chores and never have a chance to lead.
Giving people the chance to make mistakes doesn’t mean you let them fail. As long as a manager and employee have a positive, open relationship you will be able to work with them to fix the mistakes and build a stronger bond at the same time!
Hi Tom, what you say is right on the money: You cannot be afraid to let people make mistakes. But that’s a tough leadership lesson…I used to talk about Power, Permission and Protection to make management work. Protection is about making it a safe work environment to reach. And as you point out, making mistakes isn’t the same as letting them fail. So true!