Would you like to avoid repeating the same kind of mistakes?

Most people have found themselves repeating mistakes that they previously made. This type of behaviour can be frustrating, and in business, it can be costly. Often, when the repeated mistake is analysed it appears obvious, but at the time of committing the mistake perhaps not so obvious.

If you want to avoid making repeated mistakes, it is worthwhile considering the concept of experiential learning as described by David Kolb. Mr Kolb, who is an American educational theorist details a very insightful process that can be used to learn from experience. One minor drawback of the theory for some, is the use of obscure language. This problem can be overcome by simplifying the terminology.

The learning cycle theory follows four steps as outlined below:

Step 1 - Do something e.g. a task, deliver a presentation, produce a report.

Step 2 - Review what you did and ask, did it work? If yes, ask, could it be improved?

Step 3 – Evaluate – identify the reasons why the task you engaged in did not work or how it can be improved upon.

Step 4 – Change the way you execute the task, taking on board insights gained in step 3

One of the most alarming real-life examples of failing to benefit from Kolb’s learning cycle is as follows:

A boy received a new bike for his birthday. He decided to ride the bike around the farm where he lived. After a short-time he got bored and parked his bike against a fence. He wandered off and returned to his bike later that day. He approached his bike and grabbed the handle bars receiving an electric shock that literally threw him to the ground. In pain, he rose to his feet and again tried to retrieve his bike. Same result. Electric shock, knocked to the ground. Disorientated and in considerable pain he approached his bike for the third time. Same result.

His father heard all the commotion and ran to assist his son. The boy explained what happened. The father explained that the bike was leaning against an electric fence. In order to stop being electrocuted the electricity needed to be switched off, which he duly did.

This is a classic example whereby step 1 was completed and step 2 identified that the desired result was not being achieved, i.e. retrieving the bicycle. The boy failed to progress to step 3 and step 4. There is valuable learning in this example. What might appear obvious to one person is not always obvious to another.

In business, numerous examples like the bike example above exist. Organisations and people working in them often fail to reach step 3 and clearly identify the reasons their actions are leading to undesired consequences.