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How It Works
1. Set aside 5-10 minutes to reflect on some of your most recent mess-ups. As you reflect on each, list them out in the first column of this doc.
2. Once you've listed them, categorize each into one of three buckets:
- A. Screwups: These are "simple mistakes" that don't normally trip you up. There isn't a major learning opportunity here because you usually get it right; you just happened to mess up. Example: I interrupted a client in a meeting which I almost never do. I owned up to it and am not worried it'll become a habit.
- B. Weaknesses: These are "mistakes you make over and over that you try to avoid doing, but they happen." You've accepted that they're a part of who you are and you have worked on managing them. Example: I procrastinated again and had to work all night to meet a deadline. This is just how I work and, while it's not ideal, there isn't more to learn here.
- C. Growth Opportunities: These are "mistakes that don't need to happen next time because the cause is identifiable and a fix is available." More specifically, these failures offer a true opportunity for growth. Example: I was surprised to learn that a client I know well and have worked with for years wasn't happy with a deliverable. When I take a step back, I can see that I didn't manage client expectations well.
3. Take a few minutes to examine the items in C above. Ask yourself:
- Where might there be room for improvement?
- How might the circumstances surrounding this error require me to see things in a new way?
- What went wrong and what could I do differently next time?
4. Review your responses in 3 above and develop an insight about what you could have done differently to get to a better result. Then, try that out next time you're in a similar situation and note how things went.
Source: Designing Your Life
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