Saturday, November 5, 2011

From "The Progress Principle": "You can't create a problem-free bubble" - Manage your team through inevitable setbacks

From "The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work," by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer.


A manager creates a climate of psychological safety by focusing on the work and what can be learned from it, rather than berating subordinates for errors. More generally... a manager can sustain virtuous cycles of progress and positive inner work life in the face of inevitable setbacks that occur in any complex project. Contrast this to the blame and fear that prevailed throughout Karpenter Corporation. As a member of Karpenter's Domain team said, "Around here, not finding a solution is perceived as not being competent!"

This highlights an important fact. By its very nature, meaningful work is hard; people often get the greatest satisfaction from overcoming the most difficult challenges. Failure is inevitable along the path to innovation. Though you should try to minimize obstacles and setbacks under your control, you can never create a problem-free bubble for your people. You can't nourish inner work life if you drive yourself and your team crazy trying to avoid all problems. Rather, focus on providing people with the catalysts and nourishers they need to overcome the obstacles they will inevitably face. [p. 177]

[Excerpted from "The Progress Principle," by Teresa Amabile and Steven Kramer, Harvard Business Press, (c) 2011. Reprinted by permission.]

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