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Black Box Thinking
336 pages, 2015
Aviation is unique in the world of complex organizations because it's the only one in which failure is expected and accepted. Aviators have to confront their mistakes, learn from them, and create a climate where it's safe to fail. They can't work in a black box.
When pilots make errors or crash planes, the entire world knows about it—including rival airlines. And that makes all pilots nervous. Every pilot wants to keep his or her job—and every airline wants its pilots to keep theirs as well.
So they are constantly finding ways to reduce risk and eliminate mistakes. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, for example, was designed with sophisticated sensors and software that tells the pilot how the plane is flying so that he or she can correct any problems right away, preventing crashes before they happen.
In Black Box Thinking, Matthew Syed encourages us to see failure not as a disaster, but as an opportunity for growth. He argues that by examining our mistakes, we can learn valuable lessons and improve for the future. So, don't be afraid to fail, instead, see it as a stepping stone towards success.
Syed emphasizes the importance of iterative learning. This means constantly refining and improving our ideas based on feedback and results. It's a process of trial and error, but it's the best way to make progress. So, don't be afraid to experiment and learn from the outcomes.
Matthew Syed's book also highlights the importance of being open and transparent, especially when things go wrong. By being honest about our failures, we can learn from them and prevent similar mistakes in the future. So, let's be more open and honest, it's the key to improvement.
In Black Box Thinking, Syed explores how the culture within an organization can impact its success. A culture that encourages learning from failure and promotes continuous improvement is more likely to succeed. So, let's take a look at our own culture and see if it's helping or hindering our progress.
Lastly, Syed reminds us of the power of persistence. Success often comes to those who are willing to keep trying, even when things get tough. So, let's not give up at the first hurdle, let's keep going and see where our persistence can take us.
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Black Box Thinking is a game-changer in understanding how to achieve success. It's a must-read for anyone who is serious about reaching their potential.
Sir Clive Woodward - Rugby CoachMatthew Syed's Black Box Thinking is a compelling exploration of how success really happens - by learning from our mistakes.
Richard Reed - Innocent Drinks Co-founderBlack Box Thinking is a brilliant expose of the most critical component of what drives success: learning from failures.
Will Greenwood - Rugby Union PlayerBlack Box Thinking provides a roadmap to success based on the transformative power of failure.
Jamie Oliver - Celebrity ChefBlack Box Thinking is a must-read. It's about the learning that comes from our mistakes, and how it leads to progress and growth.
Tony Fernandes - AirAsia CEO