Monday, June 30, 2008

Art of making new mistakes

I got a call from an old team member, who just called up to confirm something new he wanted to try out. Its good to try out something new, particularly if you are not sure, and you don't know in whose favor the results might go....

He had the same apprehensions... he had tried a few things in the past. Some worked... some didn't... He was even more unsure now because he didn't have the support he earlier had, to make new mistakes... I always used to encourage my team to learn to make new mistakes and do it intelligently so that the risks get minimized...

I try and minimize these mistakes by keeping these few things in mind...

A) whether we have tried this earlier and what was the result...
B) what are the advantages that would work in your favor if you succeed
C) what are the issues or problems that this might land yourself into if it does not work...
D) Does it benefit the business as a whole or only part of it...

If I have answers to them, then yes, i weigh my pros and cons and decide which way to go... If i am convinced this will work and is in line with our overall objective.. its better to give it a try.... the end result, what ever it maybe, ends up giving you rich experience which has not substitute.

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