The importance of failing in bulding a successful product

FAIL

First Attempt In Learning, as Barbara Oakley nicely put it in her fundamental book 𝘜𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 (Best Educational Book 2021), is not just a witty interpretation. It is an essential guideline for learning and, of course, for product development.

Easier said than done.

It is not unusual for many of us saying that “failing is ok”, only to immediately add side notes like “but don’t fail too often”.

Are you wondering what meta message you’re sending?

Failing is not so ok

And your team will instinctively know that.

I truly believe that trying, failing and learning is one of the key ingredients of icaria TDM success recipe.

If you are in the business of creating a new product, consider the following tips:

● Stand behind your words. If you really want to create a safe environment for innovative people, do not diminish your commitment by making side comments

● Put a process in place that enables your team to learn from your mistakes. Try to figure out in advance what could go wrong and talk about it with your team, define course of action for every possible outcome and review what you have learnt at a lessons learnt session