Forgive but Don't Forget

Forgive but Don't Forget

I know this is a difficult one… It is common wisdom that failure is inevitable, especially when innovating. If you want people to take risks and try new things, failure must be an option. But few organizations have actually created cultures that accept gaffes. To show your support for failure, encourage your people to make the most of their blunders. Try adopting a "forgive but not forget" approach. Forgive honest mistakes, but make sure employees learn from past failures so they don't repeat them.

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Forgive and Remember: How a Good Boss Responds to Mistakes" by Robert I. Sutton brought to you by Edwin van Wyk via Harvard Business Review.