Making Mistakes

A learning-oriented approach to errors: detect and describe them, repair their effects, investigate contributing conditions, and test a correction.

A mistake can become useful information when it is detected, described accurately, and connected to a change. The learning process requires more than admitting an error: preserve what was expected, identify where the action or assumption diverged, repair the immediate impact, and test whether the correction helps.

Reporting conditions matter. If people expect humiliation or disproportionate punishment, some problems may remain hidden. Yet a learning culture does not remove responsibility or make every risky experiment acceptable. Distinguish ordinary error, uncertainty, negligence, and deliberate misconduct while designing practical ways to surface and address problems.

When to use it

When an error, near miss, or recurring failure provides information relevant to a future action or process.

How it can help

Can improve the visibility of problems and turn a specific error into a targeted change, while retaining appropriate accountability.