Great teams make more mistakes

Do great teams make errors? Oh, come on, how can they be considered great if they continue to make mistakes? The common misconception about high-performing teams is that they make few to no errors. Academic research across a wide range of teams from a variety of industries demonstrates that great teams make more mistakes than average teams. But isn't the common assumption the other way around?

'The Fearless Organization,' authored by Amy C. Edmonson, shares her research on high-performing teams. In one of her studies, she looked into the role of teamwork in medical error rates. Medical errors, unlike other types of errors, have serious consequences. As with any other researcher, she approached this study with the hypothesis that the most effective team will make fewer mistakes while the average team will make more. To her surprise, the study's findings were the opposite; in fact, her findings revealed a difference of ten times the number of errors per thousand patients. That is, even in a high-stakes work environment, the most effective teams make more mistakes than the average team. But why is the data correlation the polar opposite of the hypothesis?

Her eureka moment was triggered by the question, "What if a high-performing team has an open space to discuss their mistakes and errors, which eventually led to them reporting their mistakes?" So the question isn't just how many errors they make, but how many of them are reported. An average team will provide less space for its members to admit and discuss their mistakes. Interpersonal risk is high in an average team, and people may find it difficult to express their concerns. People may not feel safe reporting errors or discussing them. As a result, they either hide or remain silent even if they find any.

It is the leader's responsibility to consciously create a space where team members feel safe discussing their mistakes or concerns. So, if your team is known for having fewer errors or mistakes, it may not be something to be proud of, but rather a cause for concern. The safe environment that we need to create is one of 'Psychological Safety.' Psychological safety is a climate in which one feels one can be candid.

The difference between great team and average team is not in making mistakes it’s in reporting them. Unless you report and discuss the mistakes, scope of learning from those mistakes are nil. Comment below if you have the freedom to speak up in your team without fear of repercussions.