Safe Failure

One of my favorite tactics when it comes to designing learning experiences or developing someone’s skill is the idea of Safe Failure.

Safe failure essentially involves creating a controlled environment where individuals can make mistakes or experience setbacks during learning without significant negative consequences.

It’s failing at something that makes practice so effective. It’s the immediate feedback of what didn’t go well that cements in your brain what NOT (or at least try not) to do next time.

As we start 2025, what are some ways you can create safe failure scenarios for you or your team?

Where can you try something you might fail at but is low risk?

Here are some examples to consider:

- A low risk project that you can see through from start to finish

- A stretch assignment to design or build something new

- An informational interview with that person you don’t want to sound stupid in front of (PRO-TIP: you should ask for skip-level meetings and do informational interviews as most leaders worth their salt will love to take the opportunity and they will rarely see any mistakes in that conversation as negative… they’ve been where you are before)

- Simulate a scenario (role play, get feedback, etc.) 

Fail fast. Learn More!