Lag #03: Lagen om misstag och kritik

Den tredje lagen i Swanson’s hemliga VD-manual är den som tilltalar mig mest. Den lyder: om du inte är kritiserad kan det vara ett tecken på att du inte gör tillräckligt. Det betyder att du kan se kritik som feedback på att du faktiskt åstadkommer resultat.
If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much
It is common, especially among those assuming positions of responsibility for th efirst time, to avoid decisions and thus the risk of criticism. No one enjoys, criticism – either having to justify one’s decisions or, on occasion, acknowledge error. But ther is also a risk in avoiding decisions. Small problems now can fester and grow into big problems later. Opportunities today can disappear tomorrow. Remember: problems are not like wine and cheese – they do not get better with age.
By all means, don’t be rash, but do make decisions. That’s why you were given the responsibility in the first place. Calculated risks may be appropriate. However, be thoughtful: do not make the same mistake twice. You will learn form your many decisions that turn out well and you will learn even more from the few that do not. During one of my early appraisails, my manage said: ”I do believe this you man has made every mistake once, but never twice.” I hope he was exaggerating a little, but you get the point.
I can also tell you that some of my most criticized decisions eventually turned out to be best for the company.
Reglerna om misstag är också något som jag applicerar i mina företag – det är alltid OK att göra ett misstag under följande förutsättningar:
- Misstaget lyfts upp till ytan direkt och rapporteras till ledningsgruppen
- Man hittar pärlan av visdom som låg i misstaget
- Man gör aldrig om misstaget, någonsin igen.