Management Tip of the Day: Aim for Smart Failure

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   TIPS   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile APRIL 17, 2013 Aim for Smart Failure If you want to encourage people to take healthy risks, you need to make sure they're not afraid to fail. The first step in doing that is defining what a smart failure — a thoughtful and well-planned project that for some reason didn't work — looks like. Chances are that everyone in your organization knows what success is. Far fewer know what a smart failure is. Specify what guidelines, approaches, or processes characterize smart risk taking. Provide clear examples of both smart failures and dumb failures and discuss why they're different. Point out what the smart ones have in common, so people know how to structure their experiments. If you don't define it, all failure looks risky and that kind of mindset will kill creativity. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "To Increase Innovation, Take the Sting Out of Failure" by Doug Sundheim. Read the full post and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: FEATURED PRODUCT Own the Room: Discover Your Signature Voice to Master Your Leadership Presence HBR Press Book People are drawn to and influenced by leaders who communicate authentically, connect easily with people, and have immediate impact. So how do you become one of them? How can you learn to "own the room"? This book will help you develop your leadership presence. According to Amy Jen Su and Muriel Maignan Wilkins, leadership presence is the ability to consistently and clearly articulate your value proposition while influencing and connecting with others. They offer a simple and compelling framework, as well as practical advice about how you can develop your own personal presence. Filled with real-life stories and examples, "Own the Room" demystifies the concept of presence and gives you the tools you need to identify and embrace your unique leadership voice—and have a greater impact on the world around you. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS How to Connect With a Remote Colleague Allocate Your Time and Your Effort Act with Care When Someone Cries at Work Perfect Your Personal Elevator Pitch Use Personal Rituals to Make Changes Stick Get Customers to Advocate for You Choose the Right Chart for Your Slide Quickly Quiet Your Mind Evaluate Remote Workers Fairly Make Yourself an Expert All Previous Tips BEST SELLERS HBR Guide to Persuasive Presentations Ebook + Video Case Study HBR's 10 Must Reads on Leadership HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials HBR Guide to Getting the Right Work Done Introducing Mobile ManageMentor Powered by the proven content of Harvard ManageMentor™ iTunes >> Android >> UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. OPT OUT If you do not wish to receive any email messages from Harvard Business Review, click here. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2013 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)