The importance of failure: part of the path to success

Consequences of bankruptcy

Generally a bankruptcy is conceived as a defeatan event that impacts in a negative way on the self -esteem of the person and that can trigger a series of miginii and criticisms that recall inability and inadequacy.

As a consequence we can observe:

1. Loss of self -esteem: Failure, if lived as a personal defeat, can lead to a low self -esteem. In addition, the fear of failing again could prevent the person from taking new initiatives.
2. Avoidance: Attempt to evade new situations that could lead to bankruptcy with negative consequences on growth and learning.
3. Anxiety and high levels of stress and decrease in mood: These emotional states can negatively affect mental health and well -being.
4. Lack of perseverance who leads people to surrender too easily.
5. High self -criticism: ends up believing that the personal potential is zeroed and that there is no possibility of improving, thus reducing the opportunities for growth and personal evolution.

Bankruptcy as an opportunity for growth

However, there is a different perspective from this, which sees failure as An opportunity for growth, learning and improvement.

For example, we prevent the field of the Air Force: each company is legally required to put in the minutes and make all the errors made during the flight procedures public (not only in the case of air disasters but also small accidents or unexpected ones who could have negative consequences) in order to avoid future accidents.

In case of errors, the pilots are called to fill in a report within a few days to obtain immunity: in this way none of them will be afraid of admitting that they have made a mistake, indeed the error reported becomes a teaching of great value for the entire world sector.

Learn from failures to get more effective: with this system the plane turns out to be the safest means of transport (1 accident on 8.3 million décards recorded by the International Air Transport Association in 2014).

Artificial intelligence and use of bankruptcy

An organization that is looking for errors actively analyzes and activates a problem solving to develop effective solution, we can also find it in artificial intelligence: Errors help machines improve And they are part of their continuous process of learning and development.

How can a culture open to bankruptcy can be created?

Driving teaching from errors requires two elements:

• A system that welcomes failures as an integral part of the improvement
• A shared Mind Set that welcomes this system

However, when something goes wrong it is natural to seek someone to attribute to blame.

This reflection is deeply rooted in each of us and can hinder the Training of a culture open to bankruptcy. Of course nobody wants to be the target of criticisms and judgments, so many avoid admitting their mistakes.

The culture of guilt

In a study by the Harvard Business School it is noted that, despite the fact that company managers believe that only 2-5% of the failures are attributable to a specific human error, 70-90% of these failures are managed by identifying and punishing only one manager.

This culture of guilt It is often justified with the idea that the threat of being accused makes people more performing, but the reality is that this approach creates an environment of terror, where obviously errors are hidden and learning opportunities must be lost.

This does not mean that individual liability must always be eliminated and that personal sanctions should never be applied, but it is important to recognize the cases in which there is a serious negligence from those in which The error is an integral part of the learning and improvement process.

The psychologist Angela Duckworth, in his studies on incremental improvement and growth mentality, claims that among the ingredients for long success there are grit and perseverance.

On the contrary, the culture in which we are inserted, often sees success as a sudden event, which occurs quickly and quickly, instead discouraging perseverance and frustration to failures and leading to renunciation as soon as the immediate results do not occur.

Success through failure and perseverance

Success, however, is the result of a constant commitment and the ability to overcome difficulties and failures.

Creating a culture open to bankruptcy would also bring enormous benefits for personal growth:

1. Learning: Each failure provides information on what has not worked. This helps to improve, to understand which strategies to adopt and how to better face future challenges.
2. Resilience: Bankruptcy helps to develop new coping skills, making people more mature emotionally.
3. Self -awareness: People have the opportunity to reflect on themselves, on their limits, desires and ambitions leading to personal growth.
4. Creativity and innovation: Bankruptcy can stimulate divergent thought and creativity.
5. Increase in skills: By analyzing these errors, a person can improve their skills and become more competent over time.

Bankruptcy, in this perspective, is an integral part of the successful path, not its opposite!