Positive error culture: no contradiction in new leadership
- Maria Kraft
In a world where New Work and New Leadership are the cornerstones of a sustainable work culture, a positive failure culture is an essential factor for success. But how can failures be turned into successes and what does this mean for the dynamics of a team? We at YOURTREAT know this by now: The insights we gain from our missteps lead to personal growth and unstoppable progress. The motto of our YOURTREAT expert Dejan Stojanovic “Playing it Safe” is the “New Risky”.
"Mistakes are only mistakes if we refuse to learn from them"
It is less about finding and assigning blame and more about recognizing and using mistakes as powerful learning tools.
Only in this way can they become a catalyst for innovation, as well as for personal and entrepreneurial progress.
Mistakes have historically contributed to some of the greatest breakthroughs of our time. They are the unnoticed heroes, such as penicillin, which was discovered by accident and led to a revolution in medicine. Strangely, we tend to hide them and are reluctant to admit them. However, the term “positive error culture” refers to nothing other than the appreciation and constructive handling of failures.
Managers as role models in error management
The “Fuckup Nights” are a brilliant example of how a society can begin to remove the taboo on failure. Here, failures are not covered up, but celebrated as heroic stories, with a focus on what was learned from them. Their lessons are shared to inspire others to act courageously too. By accepting and sharing our own imperfections, we not only gain strength, but also clarity for future challenges.
Your yourtreat journey:
“A positive error culture starts with managers who make their own failures transparent and thus convey authenticity,” says Stojanovic. Creating an environment in which mistakes are seen as a natural part of the development process is the basis for New Leadership. It emphasizes the importance of giving employees the freedom to experiment and learn from failure without fear of negative consequences.
So how do we build a culture that supports the company’s success? In order to promote a positive error culture, it is often beneficial to break away from the everyday. Taking a break from the familiar allows mistakes to be re-evaluated away from everyday constraints. Experts such as Dejan Stojanovic help teams to use mistakes constructively and develop resilient strategies together. And in an atmosphere that is free of fear of negative consequences, creativity is fostered and it encourages people to try out new things.
Ready for “New Risky”? Start with yourtreat into a future in which every mistake holds opportunities for growth. Personal empowerment and innovative progress within your company are our common goal.