The fact that constructive criticism in the workplace is integral to promoting economic success has already been known for quite some time at management level. Nevertheless, in practice it is frequent to observe traditional approaches: threatening with negative consequences when employees make a mistake, thinking this will force them to work more attentively and thoroughly, and improve their results.
In fact, companies mostly achieve the opposite in the workplace with this type of approach. Anyone who introduces this kind of maxim may at first observe a real decrease in their error quote. Yet even if managers often feel validated initially, this doesn’t mean that the results will be better in the longer term. Rather, it means that fear reigns and that the company could end up in a negative spiral as a consequence.
This is because employees have a dwindling incentive to take risks due to a fear of penalties. They are worried about making a mistake, as it could result in a lecture from their boss, perhaps even a warning, or, in the worst-case scenario, a dismissal. Yet in a society where economic success is becoming increasingly more dependent on a company’s ability to innovate, an aversion to risk can be disastrous. It can go so far as employees preferring not to act at all instead of potentially making mistakes. If such an avoidance culture is established, it can threaten to sabotage the company’s success.
Characteristics of a negative work environment regarding mistakes
- Finger-pointing
- Covered-up errors
- Naming and shaming those who caused the error