The Science of Failing Well with Amy Edmondson
Mon Feb 24 2025
In this final episode of the podcast before beginning his research sabbatical, your host Dr. Nathan Reiger welcomes high-performing teams expert and scholar Amy Edmondson. She is a Professor of Leadership at Harvard Business School, author, and pioneer in the role of psychological safety in high performing teams. This conversation explores the science of failure and insights from Amy’s new book Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well, including the empowering components of compassion, vulnerability, and intelligent failure.
Key Takeaways:
[3:05] What piqued Amy’s interest in the topic of failure?
[4:15] The three main kinds of failure.
[6:12] What role does psychological safety play in failing well?
[9:56] Compassionate accountability is essential in conflict.
[11:32] The relationship between trust and conflict.
[12:02] Compassion mindset is essential in failing well.
[15:55] High performing teams don’t always make more errors, but they report them quickly.
[17:55] What makes a failure intelligent?
[21:36] Failure is an option, not trying is not an option.
[22:44] Why should we acknowledge vulnerability to self and others?
[28:03] Amy’s favorite visuals and tales of failure from Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well.
[32:45] The potential role of AI in the face of complex failure.
[36:48] Amy’s response to massive failure, such as plane crashes.
[38:30] Amy is a coping role model for failing well.
Mentioned in this episode:
The Compassion Mindset
Compassionate Accountability: How Leaders Build Connection and Get Results, Nate Regier
Visit Next-Element
Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well by Amy Edmonson
Amy Edmondson on LinkedIn
The Compassionate Accountability Podcast is produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.
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In this final episode of the podcast before beginning his research sabbatical, your host Dr. Nathan Reiger welcomes high-performing teams expert and scholar Amy Edmondson. She is a Professor of Leadership at Harvard Business School, author, and pioneer in the role of psychological safety in high performing teams. This conversation explores the science of failure and insights from Amy’s new book Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well, including the empowering components of compassion, vulnerability, and intelligent failure. Key Takeaways: [3:05] What piqued Amy’s interest in the topic of failure? [4:15] The three main kinds of failure. [6:12] What role does psychological safety play in failing well? [9:56] Compassionate accountability is essential in conflict. [11:32] The relationship between trust and conflict. [12:02] Compassion mindset is essential in failing well. [15:55] High performing teams don’t always make more errors, but they report them quickly. [17:55] What makes a failure intelligent? [21:36] Failure is an option, not trying is not an option. [22:44] Why should we acknowledge vulnerability to self and others? [28:03] Amy’s favorite visuals and tales of failure from Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well. [32:45] The potential role of AI in the face of complex failure. [36:48] Amy’s response to massive failure, such as plane crashes. [38:30] Amy is a coping role model for failing well. Mentioned in this episode: The Compassion Mindset Compassionate Accountability: How Leaders Build Connection and Get Results, Nate Regier Visit Next-Element Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well by Amy Edmonson Amy Edmondson on LinkedIn The Compassionate Accountability Podcast is produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.