When you encounter a failure, you want to learn how it happened so you can prevent it in the future. Just like a crime, investigating the suspects can help you find the flaw in your system.
Picture: Eddi/Flickr
Everyone approaches problems differently, so while learning from others’ mistakes can be helpful, it’s important you focus on yourself. Guy Winch at Psychology Today suggests approaching your failures with the mind of a detective. First investigate the likely suspects, like poor planning, inadequate preparation and weak execution. Comb through each crime scene and, as Winch explains, note everything down:
…make a list of items and issues you need to pay careful attention to in the future. Don’t assume you’ll remember them and don’t assume you’ll catch them just because you see them now — blind spots are just that — blind spots. Use your list whenever you pursue goals/tasks so you can compensate for your ‘usual suspects’, catch mistakes as soon as they appear, and correct them immediately. Creating an accurate and honest list of your most common errors and figuring out how to prevent them will make you close to failure proof.
Failure isn’t always easy to deal with, but if you grab your magnifying glass and investigate your failure thoroughly, you’ll find the real causes. Don’t rule anything out as a suspect and get to the bottom of your own failure mystery. Read more at the link below.
Why You Should Investigate Your Failures Like a Detective [Psychology Today]
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