269: Right Kind of Failure with Amy C. Edmondson

Have you ever wondered if failure could be the secret ingredient to success?

On this episode of Punk Rock HR, join Laurie as she sits down with the brilliant Dr. Amy C. Edmondson, the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, and explore the essential role of failure in our professional and personal growth. Amy shares her expertise on psychological safety and how it serves as the foundation for innovation, drawing on insights from her new book, "Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing." This episode isn't just about reframing our relationship with failure; it's a roadmap for embracing the missteps that lead us to excellence.

With Amy's wealth of knowledge, we discuss the concept of intelligent failure from the scientific labs to the design studios of IDEO, revealing how setbacks can push us toward progress when we learn from them. Through her eyes, we re-examine the heart-wrenching lessons from the Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia disasters while underscoring the value of listening to those with expertise and the proactive step of conducting pre-mortems in any project.

Laurie and Amy wrap up the conversation by examining the paradox of social media as both a platform for professional networking and a potential pitfall for personal productivity. Amy's keen preference for LinkedIn as a tool for professional connections demonstrates the power of digital networks in fostering meaningful exchanges.

Tune in to this discussion that will undoubtedly alter how you perceive risk-taking and the bountiful learning that lies within our failures.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Transforming failure into success
• The importance of psychological safety in the workplace
• The role of intelligent failures in learning and growth, with examples from Jennifer Heemstra's chemistry lab and IDEO's innovation process
• Lessons from the Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia disasters that emphasize listening to experts and the benefits of conducting pre-mortems
• LinkedIn as a platform for professional networking and its impact on work life
• Managing the risks of social media engagement
• The definition of psychological safety and the need to foster an environment where risks are communicated and managed effectively
• The distinctions between mistakes and failures
• Intelligent failure as a path to innovation and skill development
• Humility, curiosity, and situational awareness in handling failure
• How embracing intelligent failures contributes to overall success

Resources from this Episode

• Get Dr. Amy C. Edmondson’s new book: Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well: amzn.to/3tst8aW 
• Connect with Amy on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/amycedmondson
• Visit her website: amycedmondson.com
• Find Amy on Twitter/X: twitter.com/AmyCEdmondson

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