Professor Amy Edmondson of Harvard Business School conducted a study analyzing the correlation between teamwork and mistakes. She initially expected that good teamwork would naturally result in fewer mistakes. However, the results were the complete opposite. Teams with a good atmosphere actually made more mistakes than those without.
Surprised by this unexpected outcome, Professor Edmondson analyzed the causes and discovered one key fact: teams with a positive atmosphere were more active in reporting and discussing mistakes, which meant errors were more likely to be brought to the surface. Moreover, they were able to quickly correct the mistakes, ultimately leading to excellent performance. On the other hand, in teams without a good atmosphere, individuals were more likely to hide their mistakes to avoid criticism, or due to lack of communication, mistakes were simply not exposed—making it appear on the surface that there were fewer errors.
To become an excellent team, it is necessary for individual members to have outstanding abilities and to make continuous efforts to reduce mistakes. However, no matter how talented the members are, if everyone keeps their mouths tightly shut, the organization cannot expect to grow. An organization can continue to thrive only when there is trust—trust that allows people to speak up about any mistake or opinion without fear of trouble, and with assurance that they won’t be penalized for doing so.