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Start

Kerri Goergen-Doll, Oregon State University, 2025

Failed It!

Nailed It!

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Community Agreements

No recording of the meeting
Ask permission before sharing others’ stories
Be present
Step up and step back
Be aware of how you use your privilege (e.g. identities, power)
Keep an open mind and look forward to learning

Kerri Goergen-Doll, Oregon State University, 2025

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How do you feel when you fail?

Write down 3-5 physical and/or emotional responses you have after making a mistake.

Kerri Goergen-Doll, Oregon State University, 2025

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Fear

Being laughed at
Not being asked to participate in the future
Losing my job

Kerri Goergen-Doll, Oregon State University, 2025

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What do you do after a failure?

Write down 3-5 emotions or actions you take after you make a mistake.

Kerri Goergen-Doll, Oregon State University, 2025

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Reflection

What was my emotional reaction?
What were some causes of the failure?
What could I do differently in the future?

Kerri Goergen-Doll, Oregon State University, 2025

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Types of Failure

Kerri Goergen-Doll, Oregon State University, 2025

Uncertainty

Preventability

Basic

Failure

Complex

Failure

Intelligent

Failure

Citation: Edmondson, A. (2023). Right Kind of Wrong. Simon & Schuster. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Right-Kind-of-Wrong/Amy-C-Edmondson/9781982195069

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Complexity & Systems

Kerri Goergen-Doll, Oregon State University, 2025

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Choose Learning Opportunities

Kerri Goergen-Doll, Oregon State University, 2025

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Work Cultures and Failure

Kerri Goergen-Doll, Oregon State University, 2025

Supports?	Dampens?
Checklists	Making assumptions
Training/Practice	Limited trainings
Blameless reporting	Blaming
Open discussions/reflections	Hiding errors
Grace for ourselves & others	Self-protective thoughts/actions
Preventative Maintenance	Set it and forget it

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Readings

Babur, O. (2018). Talking About Failure Is Crucial for Growth. Here’s How to Do It Right. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/17/smarter-living/talking-about-failure-is-crucial-for-growth-heres-how-to-do-it-right.html

Brooks, A. W., Huang, K., Abi-Esber, N., Buell, R. W., Huang, L., & Hall, B. (2019). Mitigating malicious envy: Why successful individuals should reveal their failures. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 148(4), 667–687. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000538

Edmondson, A. (2023). Right Kind of Wrong. Simon & Schuster. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Right-Kind-of-Wrong/Amy-C-Edmondson/9781982195069

Edmondson, A. C. (2019). The fearless organization: Creating psychological safety in the workplace for learning, innovation, and growth. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Nelson, N., Malkoc, S. A., & Shiv, B. (2018). Emotions Know Best: The Advantage of Emotional versus Cognitive Responses to Failure. Journal of Behavioral Decision Making, 31(1), 40–51. https://doi.org/10.1002/bdm.2042

Kerri Goergen-Doll, Oregon State University, 2025

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Contact me!

Kerri Goergen-Doll, kerri.goergen-doll@oregonstate.edu

Kerri Goergen-Doll, Oregon State University, 2025