Learning from Mistakes Blog | Mark Graban

Mistakes happen. What we do next makes a difference. I share stories about learning from mistakes, psychological safety, and improving the systems we work in—the same themes I explore in The Mistakes That Make Us.

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December 12, 2023

Toyota’s Learning Culture: How Leaders Respond to Mistakes

Toyota’s learning culture offers a useful question for any leader: what happens after somebody brings you bad news? Your response can help people examine a problem—or teach them to keep the next one to themselves. This post draws on material from The Mistakes That Make Us. I’ve studied Lean management… Read More "Toyota’s Learning Culture: How Leaders Respond to Mistakes"

by Mark Graban 1,248 Views Leave a comment

December 11, 2023

Business Mistakes: Why Past Success Can Mislead Entrepreneurs

Past business success can make a new venture feel less uncertain than it really is. But knowing how to run one business does not tell us everything we need to know about a different market, product, or customer. Nir Bashan and Kelly Meyer described that problem in our My Favorite… Read More "Business Mistakes: Why Past Success Can Mislead Entrepreneurs"

by Mark Graban 985 Views Leave a comment

December 8, 2023

Lessons in Business Ethics: Navigating Legal Pitfalls through the Stories of Brent Cassity and Kevin Foster

In this blog post, we delve into the profound lessons that can be learned from the mistakes of others, particularly in the realm of business ethics and legal boundaries. Through the stories of Brent Cassity of National Prearranged Services and Kevin Foster, former VP of Finance turned CEO of Business… Read More "Lessons in Business Ethics: Navigating Legal Pitfalls through the Stories of Brent Cassity and Kevin Foster"

by Mark Graban 921 Views Leave a comment

December 7, 2023

Global Adaptation and Learning: How Assumptions Shape Success in Diverse Contexts – Insights from ‘The Mistakes That Make Us’

What Worked There Won’t Necessarily Work Here — A Frequent Cause of Mistakes In our interconnected world, the assumption that what works in one place will work in another can lead to surprising lessons. This post brings you compelling stories from influential leaders who learned the hard way that adaptation… Read More "Global Adaptation and Learning: How Assumptions Shape Success in Diverse Contexts – Insights from ‘The Mistakes That Make Us’"

by Mark Graban 917 Views Leave a comment

December 5, 2023

Building a Learning Culture: What Leaders Can Do After a Mistake

A learning culture shows up in what happens after a mistake. Can people describe what went wrong, ask for help, and challenge an assumption? Does the conversation lead to a change in the work? Those are more useful questions than how many courses employees have completed. In The Mistakes That… Read More "Building a Learning Culture: What Leaders Can Do After a Mistake"

by Mistakes Blog 953 Views Leave a comment

December 2, 2023

Psychological Safety at Work: Helping People Speak Up About Mistakes

Psychological safety makes it easier to raise a concern, ask a question, or admit a mistake without expecting humiliation or punishment. Leaders help build it through their responses, especially when the news is uncomfortable. The following material is adapted from The Mistakes That Make Us. Why sharing mistakes requires psychological… Read More "Psychological Safety at Work: Helping People Speak Up About Mistakes"

by Mark Graban 1,085 Views Leave a comment

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