Learning from Mistakes

I came across this article which I really enjoyed so I reproduce for you here.

Guide HR: Do you make smart mistakes?

Never fear, learning from your mistakes can make you a more successful person

📷By Pierrette Desrosiers FOLLOWColumnistPublished: June 30, 2015 Guide HR Be the first to comment0

Let’s be honest, even though we don’t want to admit that we make mistakes. We do make them. It seems that it is inherent to the human condition. Human beings are error prone. I am a human being; therefore, I make mistakes.

In fact, the more decisions we make, the more mistakes we will make. This is a law of statistics.

But the true challenge for leaders is, “How do you react to your mistakes?” Studies have looked at what happens in people’s brains as they make errors. In one study, researchers set conditions where people had to make decisions. They gave them direct feedback, providing the opportunity to learn for the next decision. People seemed to react in two different ways when they made mistakes. For some people, mistakes triggered the “wake-up call.” The brain became more attuned to find solutions and fix the problem.

RELATED ARTICLES

📷

Guide HR: Why smart entrepreneurs do stupid things with money

These individuals were much more prudent in the next decision. In short, they learned from mistakes and improved their performance. Like our ancient ancestors who realized that they had to learn from their mistakes in order to survive, these people “woke up” and got better the next time.

However, not all brains react like this. In some, a “shut off” was triggered. The brain reacted to the error as a threat against itself. It produced anxiety and a protective instinct around its ego. To avoid feeling bad, these people pushed away the feedback and tried to forget, deny or ridicule it — anything to restore their value in their own eyes. As a result, this type of person does not learn anything from their mistakes and will selectively seek positive feedback.

This phenomenon is called “confirmation bias.” People want to feel good about themselves. Therefore, we often look for feedback that is consistent with our self-image. When we need to boost our ego, this can be helpful. However, confirmation bias is the enemy when we need to avoid mistakes.

Are you more of the “wake-up call” profile or the “shut-off” profile?

If you think that intelligence is malleable — that we can improve, and even get really good at something when we practise deliberately — you are more the “wake-up call” type, likely to pay more attention to mistakes and to learn from them.

However, if you think that your intelligence and talent are fixed — i.e. that you’re either good at something or you’re not — you are likely to be the “shut-off” profile.

Alternately, if it seems to you that the more experience you have, the more you trust your judgment, this also make you more prone to being the “shut-off” profile.

Other studies show that narcissistic personalities will “shut off” because they cannot stand to be wrong.

So, as a leader, what attitudes can you develop to help you learn from your mistakes?

First, embrace mistakes as opportunities to improve, to learn, and to perform better. Don’t put too much trust in your judgment and your experience. Instead, recognize that issues are complex, so we always have to learn. Keep your ego in check; it can blind you and prevent you from learning.

What do you do after you realize that you have messed up?

Admit your mistake rapidly. Don’t wait until others discover it and take it to the next level.

Ask yourself, “What did I learn about the situation, about me, about others?”

What do we learn as a group? Could I have prevented it? How? What was a sign that I didn’t listen to?

It’s your team; it’s your mistake. Take all the responsibility. Whether you have a direct role or not, don’t put the blame on others. People admire leaders who take responsibility.

What will we do differently next time?

In the agricultural world, we now have to make more complex decisions more quickly. Our industry is unlike it was 30 or 40 years ago, when one year was like any other and we tended to repeat the same decisions over and over. Because the rate and complexity of decisions is higher, the rate of our mistakes goes up too.

If you want to have an edge over your competitors and be a better boss, you have to approach errors differently.

Seize the moment of truth. You need time to stop, reflect, then to act differently afterward. This greater consciousness allows us to improve ourselves. Look at your and your employees’ habits and belief systems to help prevent other mistakes. This will help lift your farm’s performance to another level.

If you live long enough, you will make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you’ll be a better, more successful person.