From the moment we take our first steps to when we inevitably fall, when navigating our first job blunder, or missing the train because we thought it came at 8:30 instead of 8:13, learning from our mistakes is not a one-time skill; it is an important lifelong practice. Mistakes are inevitable, but how we respond to them makes the difference between growth and failure. Whether you’re a student, a new hire, an impressive leader, or studying to become one through an EdD educational leadership course, developing a healthy and effective approach to learning from failure can be transformative.
Being aware of your mistakes and learning from them allows you to care for yourself, but it isn’t always the easiest thing to achieve. In the spirit of self-innovation, here are some ways to effectively learn from your mistakes.
Acknowledge Without Excuse
It all starts with owning the mistakes you made. This sounds simple, but it’s often the hardest part of the process. It requires accountability and humility, two traits that are cornerstones of meaningful change. Instead of deflecting blame or explaining it away, acknowledge what went wrong and how it happened. Accountability allows us to gain the valuable insight that starts inner growth.
There are many reasons why accountability leads to success, but ultimately, it will not only benefit you; with a more compassionate mindset and inner growth, but it also benefits those around you by taking responsibility for your mistakes and fixing them before others have to step in.
Reflect But Don’t Ruminate
Reflecting on past mistakes is powerful when faced with the same past problems, but the dangerous dance between insightful inner reminders and ruminating without action can be paralyzing. To avoid this, after a mistake, it’s best to ask yourself these questions:
- What happened?
- What was I trying to do?
- What did I misunderstand?
- What could I do differently next time?
This structured self-questioning gives you time to reflect and have a conversation with yourself, allowing you to cross-examine the failure and see where you went wrong, and where you can improve so it does not happen again.
A kind thought to think about when this process is hard is the common technique used in classrooms; the ‘error analysis’ technique in math classes is when students revisit the wrong answers, identify where they went wrong, and then rework the problem until they fix their mistake. It’s a technique that can be used far beyond the classroom.
Capture the Lesson Clearly
To remember a lesson, you need to name it. Writing it down in a journal, sharing it with someone you love and trust, or simply saying it out loud can be a helpful tool to do so. Keeping a mental log of your mistakes may seem a little backward, but when done right, it helps encode lessons into long-term memory and avoids the natural habit of forgetting stressful or unwanted memories, which would limit your growth.
Identifying your mistakes and keeping them with you as reminders for your future self can only be effective if your mistakes are correctly interpreted. Making them clear and concise, void of excuses and explanations, leaves room for clear and concise ways to grow.
Talk About it and Take Action
Silence breeds shame, but an open conversation can lead to learning and new ways of thinking. Talking about your mistakes and gaining a new perspective on things, whether it’s with a peer, coworker, or significant other, can clarify your thinking and lead you to things you would have never thought of. In workplace settings, creating a mentally safe place where people can feel safe enough to share their errors increases productivity and performance, so wouldn’t doing so in your personal life work too?
After talking about your experience, the best course of action is to apply your insights and new approaches to the same old problems you’re faced with. Don’t go looking for things to rectify, but allow yourself to be prepared when they do come.
The best thing about sharing your experiences with others is that when you do apply yourself, you’ll be able to not only appreciate your successes, but your peers will see your proactive nature and celebrate with you. This reinforces accountability, making it easier to grow with every mistake.
But remember, to punish yourself for making mistakes is punishing yourself for being human. So, take the best step forward and look inward to make the best of being human.
