When we make mistakes, we usually spend time analyzing what went wrong. No one likes to fail, so it makes sense to see what happened so we can avoid it in the future.
The problem with this approach is it trains your brain for failure. A study out of McMaster University which appeared in The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology shows that spending longer times in an “error state” reinforces that incorrect pattern of brain activity that caused the mistake in the first place.
The more time you spend thinking about a failure, the more likely you are to repeat it. Your mind becomes accustomed to the failure behaviour.
If you want to succeed, you cannot dwell on and over-analyze where you’ve fallen down. To train your brain positively, you must look to your successes to create new patterns that allow you to repeat them.
A Team Human Conversation
Fight workplace zombies in your organization and join Team Human! Gather a group of fellow workplace zombie hunters to discuss our most recent blog post. Use the questions below to kick-start your conversation.
How can leaders create a workplace culture that encourages a focus on successes rather than dwelling on failures?
What strategies can leaders employ to redirect team attention towards rewiring our brains to support long-term success?
How do you personally maintain a positive attitude?