NICK WRIGHT
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact

Trial & error

10/8/2017

20 Comments

 
This impressed me. This woman has been deaf since birth and lip-reads. Struck by how naturally she speaks and with apparent ease in conversation, I'm curious and ask if she can hear anything of her own voice. She replies, ‘No - nothing’. Even more intrigued, I ask, ‘So…how do you know what volume you are speaking at?’ ‘Trial and error’, she replies. ‘I started to speak when I was a child. If someone leaned back as if trying to move away from me, I realised I was speaking too loudly. If they leaned forward as if straining to hear me, I knew I was speaking too quietly. Simple.’ And brilliant.

There are some interesting parallels to this approach in fields such as Gestalt coaching and OD action research. It’s about trying something new – an experiment, if you like – and being open to, sensitive to, the experience, the response. This type of feedback loop can enable us to learn, grow, innovate and improve. It takes courage to take a step into not-yet-knowing; attentive observation skills to notice what happens; critical reflective research skills to make sound, meaningful sense of it and, last but not least, personal and professional judgement to make good decisions and act on them.
​
So, what does this point towards as leaders, OD, coaches and trainers? I believe it’s about recruiting, releasing and rewarding people who seize the initiative: responsible risk-takers willing to try something new, more likely to seek forgiveness than permission. It’s also about creating healthy relational and cultural conditions where positive qualities – e.g. wonder, curiosity and inquiry – thrive and are supported. It’s about experimenting and learning without fear of blame or failure. ‘There is no such thing as a failed experiment, only experiments with unexpected outcomes.’ (Fuller).
20 Comments
Cath Norris
11/8/2017 10:39:07 am

Love this Nick (I seem to say that a lot about your posts :) ) Such a strong visceral sense of relief and excitement reading this. It reminds me of some of the most exciting and innovative environments I've worked in, where core values and intent were strong enough to allow for 'how' we met needs and reached our destination to be a living, responsive process. It speaks to me of the value of embodied, heartfull approaches which lead from an astute felt sense of what is needed rather than a pre-formulated idea or plan.

Reply
Nick Wright
11/8/2017 10:47:11 am

Thanks for such warm and encouraging feedback, Cath. :) What you describe certainly resonates well with a Gestalt approach. A personal and cultural desire for predictability and certainty in advance, combined with a demand or expectation of guaranteed success every time, can stifle emergence, serendipity, opportunity to notice something different that could be of real/more value, release of surprising energy and potential etc.

Reply
Richard Simpson
11/8/2017 01:35:37 pm

Hi Nick - another interesting blog. It chimes with a couple of things I'm reading at the moment - TA and Systems. In TA, the idea of OD is to move towards 'autonomy'. How often do our organisations, line managers and leaders crush this aspiration? How many of us become passive or rebellious as a result? In the UK, the Government obsession with hard data, evidence, and targets creates a culture where there is a desensitisation to feedback from the system. Nobody dares trust their experience unless it is officially sanctioned. Experiment equals risk. Stick to the tried and tested, even if it doesn't work!

Reply
Nick Wright
14/8/2017 12:30:54 pm

Thanks Richard. Yes, I find that TA provides some very useful insights for OD. Sometimes it's about finding different ways to think about ourselves as individuals or as people, including the type of relationships we are willing to choose with each other and with the wider organisation. Correspondingly, it's also about how the organisation views and relates to individual and groups, both within and outside of the organisation - insofar as those boundaries are meaningful. This is where TA insights into, say, transactions and games can be very illuminating and useful!

Reply
Sharon Bingert
14/8/2017 12:31:54 pm

It's about "TAKING A LEAP OF FAITH AND NOT BEING AFRAID TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, BUT BE "SENSITIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS". I wish I was a able to try this, and help others that normally would be almost giving up!! GREAT ARTICLE"!! Thanks Nick for sharing!!!

Reply
Nick Wright
14/8/2017 12:33:25 pm

Thanks Sharon! I'm curious - what holds you back from taking leaps of faith..?

Reply
John Prpich
14/8/2017 12:34:29 pm

I actually don't believe it has anything to do with a leap of faith, it has more to do with our fear of failure, no one likes to fail. What's odd about that is that history has taught us the exact opposite, over and over again, over hundreds and thousands of years, yet we are still afraid. I love learning by experiment and I embrace failure.

Reply
Nick Wright
14/8/2017 12:36:25 pm

Hi John. Intriguing comments. Do you see 'leap of faith' and 'fear of failure' as entirely disconnected dynamics and experiences..?

Reply
Shannon Sulpizio
14/8/2017 12:37:39 pm

I live and work by this approach. Searching for the new idea and taking the leap is always worth it because you do learn more from this than from any other methodology. In some ways you learn faster. I use this when I train. There's an exploration that occurs -an adventure- for both me and the class. This lends itself to motivational and engagement benefits that just simply standing in front it the class won't ver garner. With that said, I find increasingly that people generally speaking are resistant to the try and see what happens exercise. My experience is that people would rather take traditional steps rather than the trial and error approach. No one likes to fail. For me the question is how do you get people to be open to the potential of failure? Fear of failure is the enemy!

Reply
Nick Wright
14/8/2017 12:40:16 pm

Hi Shannon. Thanks for the stimulating note. What do you believe might lay behind the increasing resistance and fear of failure in the people and environments you work in..?

Reply
Khorshed Bhote
14/8/2017 12:41:00 pm

All great inventions came out of failures. Experiential learning is the best kind. It sticks.

Reply
Nick Wright
14/8/2017 12:43:51 pm

Hi Khorshed. I think it's true that many great inventions came out of what was construed as 'failure' at the time. I believe that experiential learning is one of the best ways to increase emotional as well as rational commitment to a new idea or approach. It's as if something shifts deep within us - which is very different to passive assent.

Reply
Iain McKenna
14/8/2017 12:44:33 pm

I don't think fear of failure is a big issue - we all fail. The problematic fear is fear of punishment for having failed.

Reply
Nick Wright
14/8/2017 12:49:04 pm

Hi Iain. Yes, fear of failure is often related to deeper fears...often in relation to the perceived consequences of failure. Sometimes it's about a fear of punishment by others, particularly others that hold power over us. The possibility of punishment could be real or imagined. Sometimes it can be a fear of failing to meet up to our own hopes and expectations of ourselves, or the hopes and expectations of others who matter deeply to us.

Reply
E.G.Sebastian - CPC, CSL
14/8/2017 02:15:24 pm

Only 100% :) - and yes, it blows up in my face too, half of the time... But it's worth it, for the other half :)

Reply
Nick Wright
14/8/2017 02:15:55 pm

Hi E.G. You truly are fear-less! :)

Reply
Devora Gila Berkowitz
18/8/2017 10:09:27 am

Here's another angle on what you're saying, Nick. This is why we've sent our children to Democratic School, based on the Sudbury system. They are such kinesthetic self-learners that being in a regular school system was separating them from being their true selves. Imagine revolutionizing our schools to create a world of adults and children who are always ready to "learn, grow, innovate and improve."

Reply
Nick Wright
18/8/2017 10:11:10 am

Hi Devora. I'm intrigued. What's a 'Democratic School' and what is the 'Sudbury' system?

Reply
Cassie Sim
20/8/2017 11:32:33 am

Educators aren't afraid of failures but employers do because they pay you to deliver. You must first win the approval of the management to adopt a 'try and trial' approach or else every attempt to find new ideas will be a failed attempt.

Reply
Nick Wright
20/8/2017 11:39:21 am

Hi Cassie. You reminded me of an experience many years ago when I worked in industry. The organisation sent all apprentices onto outward bound courses where we were challenged and encouraged to be proactive, question and innovate. After one such experience, I returned to the workplace only to find that senior managers were uninterested or unwilling to experiment with new ideas that could have made a radical difference. It was a frustrating and demotivating experience. I imagine, in retrospect, that senior managers were not involved in the purpose and design of the outward bound courses and, therefore, felt no ownership or engagement with the outcomes that arose from them.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    ​Nick Wright

    ​I'm a psychological coach, trainer and OD consultant. Curious to discover how can I help you? ​Get in touch!

    Picture
    Like what you read? Simply enter your email address below to receive regular blog updates!
    Subscribe to Blog
    Picture
    Picture


    ​Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Categories

    All
    Abc
    Ability
    Accountability
    Achievement
    Act
    Action
    Action Learning
    Activism
    Adaptability
    Adaptive
    Advent
    Adventure
    Africa
    Agency
    Agile
    Ambiguity
    Angle
    Anticipation
    Anxiety
    Appraisal
    Appreciation
    Appreciative
    Appreciative Inquiry
    Approach
    Argyris
    Asia
    Assumption
    Assumptions
    Asylum
    Attachment
    Attention
    Attitude
    Audience
    Authenticity
    Authority
    Autonomy
    Avoidance
    Awareness
    Behaviour
    Being
    Belief
    Beliefs
    Bias
    Bible
    Body Language
    Boundaries
    Brainstorming
    Brand
    Calling
    Care
    Career
    Censorship
    Challenge
    Change
    Character
    Charity
    Child
    Choice
    Choose
    Christ
    Christian
    Christmas
    Clarity
    Client
    Climate
    Coach
    Coaching
    Coactive
    Cognition
    Cognitive
    Cognitive Behavioural
    Commitment
    Communication
    Community
    Compassion
    Competence
    Competencies
    Complexity
    Concepts
    Confidence
    Conflict
    Confluence
    Congruence
    Consciousness
    Construct
    Constructs
    Construe
    Consultancy
    Contact
    Content
    Context
    Contracting
    Contribution
    Control
    Conversation
    Corruption
    Counselling
    Counterintiution
    Counterintuition
    Countertransference
    Courage
    Craziness
    Creativity
    Credibility
    Crisis
    Critical Consciousness
    Critical Reflection
    Critical Reflective Practice
    Critical Reflexivity
    Critical Thinking
    Critique
    Cross
    Cross Culture
    Cross-culture
    Culture
    Curiosity
    Customer Care
    Customers
    Customer Service
    Death
    Deception
    Decision
    Deconstruction
    Defence
    Defences
    Deferred Gratification
    Definition
    Delusion
    Democracy
    Depression
    Determination
    Development
    Deviance
    Deviant
    Diagnosis
    Disaster
    Discernment
    Disclosure
    Discovery
    Discrimination
    Disruptive
    Dissent
    Dissident
    Dissonance
    Distinctiveness
    Distortion
    Diversity
    Dream
    Dynamic
    Dynamics
    Easter
    Ecology
    Edge
    Edi
    Education
    Effectiveness
    Efficiency
    Ego State
    Eliciting
    Emergence
    Emotion
    Emotional
    Emotional Intelligence
    Empathy
    Empowerment
    Encouragement
    Energy
    Engagement
    Environment
    Equality
    Eternity
    Ethics
    Ethiopia
    Evaluation
    Evidence
    Evocative
    Existential
    Existentialism
    Expectation
    Expectations
    Experience
    Experiment
    Experimentation
    Exploration
    Explore
    Exposure
    Facilitation
    Faith
    Fear
    Feedback
    Feeling
    Feminism
    Figure
    Filter
    Fit
    Flashback
    Focus
    Forgiveness
    Framework
    Freedom
    Freud
    Fun
    Future
    Gender
    Geopolitical
    Geopolitics
    Gestalt
    Global
    Goal
    Goals
    God
    Gospel
    Grace
    Grief
    Grit
    Ground
    Group
    Guidance
    Healing
    Health
    Hear
    Heidegger
    Hero
    Hope
    Human
    Human Givens
    Humanity
    Human Resources
    Human Rights
    Humility
    Humour
    Hybrid
    Hypotheses
    Hypothesis
    Icon
    Ideation
    Identity
    Image
    Imagination
    Impact
    Impostor
    Inclusion
    Independence
    Influence
    INGO
    Initiative
    Injustice
    Innovation
    Inquiry
    Insecurity
    Insight
    Inspiration
    Instinct
    Integrity
    Intention
    Interdependence
    Interference
    International
    Interpretation
    Intimacy
    Introversion
    Intuition
    Invisible
    Jargon
    Jesus
    Journey
    Jungle
    Justice
    Keys
    Knowing
    Knowledge
    Labels
    Language
    Lateral Thinking
    Leader
    Leadership
    Learner
    Learning
    Lesson
    Liberal
    Life
    Light
    Listening
    Logic
    Loss
    Love
    Management
    Manager
    Marathon
    Matrix
    Mbti
    Meaning
    Media
    Mediation
    Meetings
    Memory
    Mentoring
    Merit
    Metaphor
    Metaphysic
    Mindfulness
    Miracle
    Mirroring
    Misfit
    Mission
    Mode
    Morality
    Motivation
    Mystery
    Narrative
    Nazis
    Need
    Negotiation
    Neo-Nazi
    Networking
    News
    New Year
    Norm
    Norms
    Noticing
    Online
    Operations
    Opportunity
    Oppression
    Organisation
    Organisation Develoment
    Organisation Development
    Origin
    Pace
    Panic
    Paradigm
    Paradox
    Partnership
    Passion
    Pastoral
    Pattern Matching
    Peace
    People
    Perception
    Perfectionism
    Performance
    Perseverance
    Personal Constructs
    Personal Leadership
    Person Centred
    Perspective
    Phenomenology
    Phenomenon
    Philippines
    Philosophy
    Physicality
    Plan
    Plans
    Plato
    Play
    Plot
    Polarity
    Policy
    Politics
    Poor
    Positive
    Positive Psychology
    Posture
    Potential
    Potential#
    Poverty
    Power
    Practice
    Pragmatism
    Praxis
    Prayer
    Preference
    Preferences
    Prepare
    Presence
    Principles
    Priorities
    Priority
    Privilege
    Proactivity
    Problem Solving
    Process
    Professional
    Progressive
    Projection
    Projects
    Prompt
    Propaganda
    Protection
    Protest
    Providence
    Provocative
    Psychoanalysis
    Psychodynamic
    Psychodynamics
    Psychology
    Psychometrics
    Psychotherapy
    Purpose
    Quality
    Questions
    Race
    Radical
    Rational
    Rationale
    Rationalisation
    Rationality
    Reality
    Reason
    Reasoning
    Reconciliation
    Recruitment
    Reflect
    Reflection
    Reflective Practice
    Reflexivity
    Reframing
    Refugee
    Refugees
    Relationship
    Relationships
    Release
    Religion
    Representation
    Rescue
    Research
    Resilience
    Resonance
    Resourcefulness
    Respect
    Responsibility
    Responsive
    Responsiveness
    Revelation
    Reward
    Rights
    Risk
    Role
    Role Model
    Rosabeth Moss-kanter
    Rules
    Sabbath
    Satire
    Satnav
    Saviour
    Schemata
    School
    Science
    Secure Base
    Security
    See
    Selection
    Selective Attention
    Self
    Sense Making
    Senses
    Sensitivity
    Serendipity
    Servant
    Shadow
    Significance
    Silence
    Simplicity
    Sin
    Skills
    Snake
    Social Construct
    Social Construction
    Social Constructionism
    Social Media
    Social Psychology
    Socrates
    Solution Focused
    Solutions
    Solutions Focus
    Solutions-focus
    Space
    Speed
    Spirit
    Spiritual
    Spirituality
    Stance
    Stealth
    Stereotype
    Stereotypes
    Story
    Strategic
    Strategy
    Strengths
    Stress
    Stretch
    Structure
    Struggle
    Stuck
    Style
    Subconscious
    Subjectivity
    Success
    Suffering
    Supervision
    Support
    Survival
    Sustainability
    Symbol
    Symbolism
    Systems
    Systems Thinking
    TA
    Tactical
    Tactics
    Talent
    Teacher
    Teaching
    Team
    Teamwork
    Teenage
    Theology
    Theory
    Therapy
    Thinking
    Thought
    Time
    Touch
    Toys
    Traction
    Trade
    Tradition
    Training
    Transactional Analysis
    Transference
    Transformation
    Transition
    Transitional Object
    Trauma
    Trust
    Truth
    Uncertainty
    Unexpected
    Vallues
    Value
    Valued
    Values
    Violence
    Visibility
    Vision
    Voice
    VUCA
    Vulnerability
    Vulnerable
    Waiting
    War
    Wealth
    Weird
    Wellbeing
    Will
    Willingness
    Window
    Wisdom
    Wonder
    Words
    World
    Worth
    Youth
    Zoom

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact