On October 16th, another Knowledge Snack took place at Visionskultur – this time on the topic of „culture of error“. Seven participants came together in the digital session and openly exchanged views on a topic that is as central as it is sensitive in the context of startups.
Especially during the start-up phase, you are constantly confronted with new situations, trying out a lot of things and learning all the time. Mistakes are inevitably part of the process – however, the crucial thing is how you deal with them. A positive culture of error means not „punishing“ yourself for missteps, but seeing them as valuable learning moments. After all, without mistakes there is no innovation – they are the driver for further development, creativity and real change.
The workshop therefore focused on the questions: How do I want to deal with mistakes myself? What is my attitude towards them? And how can I foster a constructive, trusting culture of error – including through dialogue with others?
The discussion showed how multifaceted the topic is: ranging from personal attitude and dealing with it in teams or companies to a meta-level that includes societal structures and work processes. The exchange about how to handle criticism when others point out one's own mistakes was particularly engaging. Here, Nonviolent Communication (NVC) was mentioned as an important tool to remain respectful and solution-oriented.
Further insights emphasised that a negative handling of mistakes often begins as early as school – right where mistakes are regarded as failure rather than as a learning opportunity. The connection between error culture, pressure to perform and societal power structures (e.g. capitalism, white supremacy) was also critically examined.
A key learning was: appreciating mistakes instead of avoiding them. Or as one participant put it:
The feedback at the end was consistently positive:
Conclusion: The Knowledge Snack showed how important it is to develop an open and reflective attitude towards mistakes – as an individual, as a founder and as part of a community. Because those who learn to see mistakes as signposts can truly grow.
Let's continue on 7th November at 3 pm with the next deep dive: Psychological safety in start-ups – here we delve deeper into the topic and look at how trust, openness and psychological safety can be actively fostered in teams and projects. Register now and join in!