How to approach failures as a leader?

Hey friend,

In this week's deep dive, we're flipping the script on failure.

In our journey as leaders or developers, we inevitably encounter failure either through bugs or challenges while tackling difficult problems or, rather, problems in general.

But what if we viewed these moments not just as setbacks, but as valuable lessons?

Do you prefer reading on the web? Here's a link for you

Today, let's learn from Mark Rober (former Nasa Engineer 🚀 and Youtuber).

Mark Rober conducted an experiment with 2 groups of all age groups, teaching them to learn to code. He wanted to prove that anyone from any background could learn to code, so he challenged them to get through the maze.

The reality? This maze was impossible to solve and no one could solve it.

😲 50,000 of them took the challenge.

Participants were tasked with coding a robot 🤖 to navigate a maze - a setup designed for failure.

• Group 1 received a neutral message upon failing: ​
  "⚠️ You have failed, please try again."

• Group 2 received a message emphasizing loss: ​
  "⚠️ You have failed, you have lost 5 points, you now have 195 points, please try again."

The result? 😲

Group 2 made fewer attempts than Group 1 because they were scared to fail. Isn't that interesting?

Why do we let the fear of failure hold us back?

🔖 This highlights 3 crucial points:

• The framing of failure can significantly impact our willingness to persist and try again.
• A fear of failure holds you back about feeling good about the thing.
• Those who were not discouraged by failures made more attempts to solve the puzzle, leading to more success and learning.

There are 3 takeaways here - Act like a Scientist would 🧪

🖼️ Perception of Failure

As leads, we must foster an environment where failures are seen as steps in the scientific method of success.

🔄 Encouraging Persistence

By removing the stigma around failure, we encourage the team to try different approaches, learn, adapt, and innovate. Just like it was emphasized in Mark's experiment with Group 2.

🛡️ Creating a Safe Space for Trial and Error

Let's emphasize that each attempt, each 'failed' experiment, is a precious opportunity for learning, leading to better solutions and personal growth.

Here's a Homework for you 🧠

Next time a project goes differently than planned, analyze the outcome. What can be learned? How can this new knowledge be applied in the future?

How do you handle setbacks in your team? Have you ever had a failure that turned into a success story? Please just hit reply and share your experiences.

I'm all ears, and your story could be the highlight of our next issue!

🧰 The Engineering Leader's Toolbox

• 🧪 For a Master class in Learning from Failure, check out Mark Rober's experiment. It's a powerful illustration of the impact our perception of failure has on our actions. 👀 Watch the experiment ↗️.
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• 💯 Redefining Success using Pathless Path, the book is now free, so check it out here ↗️. Should we move away from a conventional emphasis on academic excellence, career success, and achievement at the expense of our true passions?

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