Everyday I see my 3 year old explore a variety of things to comprehend the world around him. As any parenting book suggests, parents must allow the child to learn through experiences and do not stop him unless what he is trying is dangerous. Kids learn much more from 'mistakes'. Once they touch a cup from which smoke is coming out, you know they will identify hot things from a distance from then on! Isn't it remarkable how they associate different items and form their beliefs?
Today every company worth its salt wants their employees to "push the boundaries", "innovate" and so on and so forth. And yes they form the famed "innovation team" too. But question is do they create the free-wheeling environment which my 3 year old operates in?
The root of the problem lies in creating a culture where no mistakes are allowed! In an 'environment' which does not allow people to explore, fail (maybe even waste company's resources) and learn, it is likely employees play well within themselves. You know you are in such a surrounding when you see star performers around you are only associated with successful projects (be mindful that 'success' is often re-defined too in such environments!). There is tremendous peer pressure to not fail at anything or make bad decisions.
Creating a framework where failures and bad choices are encouraged and learnings shared (to avoid repeats) is the only way to unleash the full potential.
Today every company worth its salt wants their employees to "push the boundaries", "innovate" and so on and so forth. And yes they form the famed "innovation team" too. But question is do they create the free-wheeling environment which my 3 year old operates in?
The root of the problem lies in creating a culture where no mistakes are allowed! In an 'environment' which does not allow people to explore, fail (maybe even waste company's resources) and learn, it is likely employees play well within themselves. You know you are in such a surrounding when you see star performers around you are only associated with successful projects (be mindful that 'success' is often re-defined too in such environments!). There is tremendous peer pressure to not fail at anything or make bad decisions.
Creating a framework where failures and bad choices are encouraged and learnings shared (to avoid repeats) is the only way to unleash the full potential.
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