Make millions from your mistakes

After all, who does not know the many examples from the management literature of how a constructive culture of failure leads to innovation and the development of breakthrough business successes? One of the most classic is probably the invention of Post-It notes, which basically relies on a failed development of glue. Every now and then I come across similar stories from the daily lives of companies in Denmark. It's inspiring and thought-provoking every time. I see a pattern in the narratives, which I will try to illustrate with a concrete example. Perhaps it can inspire you to help create the conditions for similar success in your organization.

Error created the main product

A few weeks ago, I sat at a meeting at a highly specialized company that develops and produces advanced measuring equipment. During a dialogue about the history and development of the company, their COO suddenly exclaims: “Our main product was actually developed on the basis of a mistake”. To my question about what made it possible, he replied that “we allowed ourselves to give it a chance”. The company has made millions from this venture. And they've had steady growth in a difficult market.

The dilemma most people know

After the meeting, I thought a lot about that narrative, because it contains part of the answer to one of the dilemmas that we as consultants hear clients talk about a lot these days. The dilemma is that in many companies we hear talk that mistakes are good. But when it comes down to it, few people dare to admit that mistakes have been made and it is being fixed or packed away as soon as possible. The culture in many places is characterized by fear of making mistakes, which goes beyond risk-taking and ingenuity. Crooked ideas may not even be presented for fear of the harsh judgment of others. And when mistakes happen, it gets busy at the washbasin. Failure is not used as an opportunity for learning and innovation.

It's a matter of mindset

The key is in the customer's comment that they allowed themselves to give it a go. It is a mindset characterized by curiosity, irreverence, ambition, and not least courage. To create that mindset in an organization, it must permeate all communication and not least the signals and actions that come from the top of the organization. It is essentially about you as a leader helping to create a constructive culture of failure. You have to be a role model and openly acknowledge that you can make mistakes and be wrong too. You must show agility by being ready to look at familiar issues with fresh eyes. You've got to put yourself on the line by taking co-responsibility when things don't run like lubricated. It will inspire people around you to do the same. Then it may be that you give the next crooked shot a chance to become the idea that creates the innovation that gives me a head start.

How is your approach to error?

Did you notice the typo in the headline, by the way? What did it make you think? Did you quickly judge that as sloppiness or incompetence? Or did you pull on the smiley band and curiously read on? What is your personal approach to mistakes?