People are so careful not to make errors all the time. It is like screwing up is a bad thing. The other day I was having this discussion with @tyme where we were discussing the interpretations of Ed Catmull’s interview video where he talks about screwing up and other aspects of the Pixar leadership. Interesting to see both she and I had different interpretations of the same words. It amazed me to see where I found the company’s open arm approach to accept screw-ups, she saw the company’s attempts to avoid screw ups through developed wisdom. Needless to say both of us are correct. In this post let’s talk about my interpretation.
The notion that you’re trying to control the process and prevent error screws things up. We all know the saying it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission. And everyone knows that, but I think there is a corollary: if everyone is trying to prevent error, it screws things up. It is better to fix problems than to prevent them. And the natural tendency for managers is to try and prevent error and over plan things.
What the hell is wrong?
Our entire social eco-system is so focused on results that we are sometimes misguided and often overlook the journey for the end. I remember a quote from my English teacher who used to say “Never overlook the trees for the woods or the woods for the trees”. It is a balance that I strive for in my life even though I am naturally inclined to look at the bigger picture and not just the results which are vulnerable to time.
Think-Screw-Iterate-Screw-Iterate-Succeed
However, letting people know that it is OK to make mistakes is the way companies should run. It is only when one knows that the mistakes will not cost them the job is when employees are free to explore ideas. Sometimes those ideas lead to great revelations and results, many times just a spoof from the test tube. But it is only at the cost of these spoofs and goof-ups that some of the best discoveries are made.
Also it is not just about making startling discoveries but also about putting yourself on the line and exploring the boundaries. Thinking out of the box has its own cost and that comes up in the form of screw-ups. So when you tell your people to think outside the box, think creatively, or the hottest trend buzz called “design thinking” keep in mind that they are equally likely to screw up. Let them have that freedom to be able to make mistakes. For when you give them that creative license, it is that great ideas start flowing.
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