The Opportunity To Fail

Usually, I try to build my post from unrelated experiences. However, sometimes I just need to comment and to provide what I consider to be insight. This is one of those times.

Now that I'm in management, I have to choose my "style." Many managers like to control and dictate; others like to keep their hands off. I tend to be a little of both. One aspect of my style has to do with failure. I believe in giving people the "opportunity to fail."

The opportunity to fail implies the opportunity to succeed beyond my expectations. And that's the real motivation. But, why put it in terms of failure? Why not say: "opportunity to succeed?" That's an interesting question and the point of this post.

However, before discussing the failure versus succeed issue, it's important to understand the implications of the "opportunity" part. I believe in giving people a chance. On the flip side, I think it's inappropriate to drop someone into a lake to teach them how to swim. You might consider that an "opportunity to fail" (and, in a sense, it certainly is, since there's a good chance that they will fail and drown), but I don't. It's not an opportunity because they haven't been given the tools that they need to succeed. You don't really lose a race when they tie you up and make you crawl...it doesn't "prove" anything.

"Give them enough rope to hang themselves." Or, "When you're at the end of your rope, swing." They mean the same thing. One is a positive outlook (swing!), and the other is a more negative approach. Why approach it from a negative view?

Developers like challenges. Tell them one way and they'll find another way (as long as it's their way). Posing a negative approach challenges them to prove your wrong. It's the resistence training that they need to build their ego. I like the analogy of computer games. If you're playing Doom or Quake, you can always use the cheat codes to get through, but it's not nearly as fun. It's more fun because you know you can fail (get fragged).

So, I let 'em fail. But, I gently remind them to "impress me" if they can. Sometimes, I'm surprised at how well they can impress. Typically, they succeed, but just barely. Sometimes, they fail. When they do, I make sure to help them learn from it.