Glenn’s Space: ‘Stupid Mistake. . . Let’s Have Lunch’

College roommates spent a quiet Friday night watching an old classic Western. As the cowboy galloped along on his horse, Paul bet his roommate $10 the cowboy was going to ride over the cliff.  

“No way,” he said. “The bet is on.”

Sure enough, moments later the horse rider disappeared over the cliff. Paul collected the $10 but then started feeling guilty. “I can’t take your money,” I told him. “I’ve seen the movie before.”

“So, have I,” the roommate responded. “I just didn’t think he would do it again.”

Promoting learning and allowing for mistakes doesn’t mean I allow people to repeat the same silly mistakes repeatedly getting the same mediocre or even fatal results.   

Peter Senge was right: “People are designed to learn. Organizations are designed to control.” Controlling environments don't respond well to mistakes. Controlling leaders point fingers. “Who” not “What” failed dominates an unhealthy leadership mentality.

Immediately. Right now. Eliminate all signs of the “mistakes are bad” mentality. 

Eradicate the fear of failure complex. Remove the stigma attached to making blunders and bloopers. Rather, make them a vital part of your learning environment.  

Charles Knight believes: “You need the ability to fail. I’m amazed at the number of organizations that set up an environment where they do not permit their people to be wrong. You cannot innovate unless you are willing to accept some mistakes.”

I have a little sign in my office that says: “Stupid Mistake. Let’s Have Lunch.” 

That’s my philosophy in dealing with mess-ups. I can handle any unintentional failure or mistake. But there must be a plan to make this a learning experience that ensures the same mistake doesn’t occur again. 

Risk takers, willing to be fully accountable for their efforts, are powerful arsenals for any team. It is important that team members sense a “go for it” spirit and confident level of support. Leadership encouragement is the fuel that ignites their productivity.

It’s unfortunate, but people are often waiting for the leader’s permission to try their “next best thing” idea to avoid the potential of failure embarrassment.

“Bottom line (According to Tom Peters): Mistakes are not the ‘spice’ of life. Mistakes are life. Mistakes are not to be tolerated. They are to be encouraged. (And, mostly, the bigger the better.)”     

Questions to Ponder:

What is my reaction to failure and mistakes?

How can I use people’s strikeouts as learning experiences?