The Joy of Making Mistakes

Making mistakes is an integral, essential part of learning - if you are not making mistakes, you are not pushing the limits and not growing. A while ago I got a new game for my computer. It was tough and for the first few months I won some times and lost more times. Then my brain caught up to it. I began winning more than I lost. Yesterday, I won 10 in a row. I may play this game some more  but I’m ready to move on to another challenge. Maybe I’ll try to get up to the novice level on my computer chess game.

If Jody is getting 100% on all her math tests, the problems are too easy for her. Maybe that’s why she looks bored at math time. I’ll bet that she would enjoy the challenge of being stumped once in a while or at least made to work her brain harder until she gets the right process or answer.

Another important aspect of making mistakes is that it tells the teacher, boss, mentor where the learner, subordinate, student can be assisted and helped to grow.

In school, “Harold has failed to carry correctly three times on these addition problems; I’ll have Suzie help him straighten that out.” This could have been treated negatively by the teacher. “I’m giving Harold an “F” for this week’s grade.”

In business; “Ah, Betty’s quote on the Peregrine printing job hasn’t allowed enough funding for the special paper it requires. She made the same type of error on another job. I’ll sit down with her and show her how that has to be figured.” This could have been treated negatively by the Boss. “Betty makes too many mistakes – she’s fired.”

A Sports Story

Ned is a new student in your junior high school and a new member of your basketball team. He is a pretty good guard but needs some specific improvements especially using his left hand. During your practice sessions, your regular guards have figured out how to shut him down by over guarding his right side moves.

You: Ned, you need to work on dribbling, passing, and shooting with your left hand. I want you to work with Wes, our point guard. He’ll show you how to do that.

Ned: O.K. Coach, but I think I’m doing pretty good now. Why do I have to work on that?

You: Because it will make you a better player and isn’t that what you want? (You could have treated it negatively. “Because if you don’t you will never get off the bench.”)

Ned: Yeah, Okay. I’ll work on it.

It’s the same on your baseball field, soccer pitch, volleyball court.  .  .       

Remember that line:“Because it will make you a better player and isn’t that what you want?”