The art and science of failing well

Quick Overview

It is possible to fail well by reframing failure as an opportunity for deep learning, resilience building, and creativity, rather than a source of shame or finality, as demonstrated by three key principles: separating one's identity from the mistake, consciously planning for failure, and establishing feedback mechanisms.

Key Points: Failure can be reframed as an essential catalyst for success, resilience, and deep learning, contrary to viewing it as something to be avoided or forgotten. The first principle for failing well is to 'Separate Yourself From The Mistake,' ensuring that personal identity is not conflated with a single failure event, which is crucial for recovery. The second principle involves making failure a conscious act by giving space for it, such as by planning for setbacks in creative endeavors, which is necessary for growth. The third principle is establishing a 'Feedback Mechanism,' like the kind used in sports or by organizations like hospitals, to gather honest, constructive input on outcomes. Positive psychology studies suggest that recovery periods after failure contribute to creativity, productivity, and overall happiness. Thomas Edison exemplifies this by stating, 'I failed my way to success' after his 1,093 unsuccessful attempts at creating the lightbulb, viewing each as showing what didn't work.

Context: This video, presented as a 'Brain Briefs' series by Big Think and Unlikely Collaborators, explores the concept of 'failing well' by interviewing experts like Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD (Positive Psychologist), Tim Harford, PhD (Economist), and Robert Sutton, PhD (Organizational Psychologist). The discussion centers on shifting the perception of failure from a source of shame to a necessary input for learning, success, and personal growth, using examples from history, sports, and creative work.

Detailed Analysis

The video argues that failure is an inevitable part of any meaningful endeavor and can be reframed as a positive force for learning and growth through three core strategies. The first strategy is to 'Separate Yourself From The Mistake' (1:17), meaning individuals should avoid defining their self-worth by their failures, thereby preventing cognitive dissonance and self-threat when mistakes occur. The second strategy, the 'Silicon Valley Standard,' suggests that instead of punishing failure, one should actively plan for it, such as giving 'space' for creative exploration and recreation (2:55), which fosters innovation. The third strategy involves developing a 'Feedback Mechanism' (4:37), which allows for objective assessment of success or failure without emotional fallout, citing examples like hospitals learning from mistakes or coaches providing honest feedback. The experts emphasize that failure, when processed correctly, leads to resilience, creativity, and ultimately, success, referencing Thomas Edison who famously stated, 'I failed my way to success' after thousands of unsuccessful battery experiments (5:51). The ultimate goal is to 'Learn to fail, or fail to learn' (6:01), ensuring mistakes serve as data for future improvement.