A friend who is involved with aviation in Canada sent me these words as part of an ongoing exchange of ideas.
“We have a robust Safety Management System where we can learn from our collective mistakes, as Transport Canada’s Aviation Safety Letter motto says, ‘Learn from the mistakes of others; You’ll not live long enough to make them all yourself…’
When someone makes a mistake, it is a learning opportunity, for them, AND for you.
Apparently, the quote has been attributed to many people from Eleanor Roosevelt to Groucho Marx who appreciated the idea of vicarious learning.
The next time you notice a mistake, rather than indulge in the destructive glee of Schadenfreude, indulge in constructive reflection.
‘What can I learn from what went wrong for them?’
My best wishes, Paul
