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World Congress 2024 • Aug 20, 2024 • Session details

Fail fast. How embracing failure leads to innovation at ZEISS.

Katharina Enßle

How does a historic organization turn mistakes into innovation? Learn how ZEISS ditched slow approvals for true psychological safety, treating everyday failures as vital R&D investments.

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#1 about 3 min

Recognizing a unique approach to failure in organizations

Personal stories and observations reveal how dealing with mistakes sets certain companies apart from traditional corporate environments.

#2 about 3 min

Embedding scientific trial and error into business culture

A scientific background naturally establishes an environment where failing is recognized as a necessary step toward innovation.

#3 about 2 min

Fostering psychological safety through blameless leadership practices

Creating a blame-free environment requires leaders to focus on process improvement rather than penalizing individuals.

#4 about 2 min

Initiating authentic cultural change without forced corporate formats

Role modeling openness about mistakes works better than artificially scheduled failure-sharing events.

#5 about 2 min

Reframing mistakes as necessary long-term business investments

Viewing failures as inherent costs of research and development ensures sustainable growth instead of short-term optimization.

#6 about 4 min

Overcoming the instinct to sweep mistakes under the rug

Shifting away from a blame-oriented environment requires aligning strategic goals with open, everyday dialogue.

#7 about 6 min

Using unscripted employee testimonials for authentic employer branding

Allowing employees to speak candidly about their workplace without scripts builds genuine trust with prospective talent.

#8 about 2 min

Establishing continuous feedback loops over annual performance reviews

Encouraging continuous feedback prevents unaddressed issues and removes the anxiety associated with yearly evaluations.

#9 about 3 min

Differentiating productive experimentation from poor employee performance

Leaders must distinguish between trying hard but failing and a fundamental lack of effort or capability.

#10 about 4 min

Balancing employee autonomy with critical brand risk management

Providing freedom requires clear boundaries and processes to prevent errors that permanently damage brand reputation.

#11 about 2 min

Onboarding new talent into an environment of extreme autonomy

New hires quickly learn to be proactive when placed in roles that prioritize broad expectations over rigid procedural instructions.

Matching moments

3:03 min

Building a corporate culture that actively celebrates failure

Rudi Bauer Rudi Bauer +1 · Cappuccino with HR

2:30 min

Fostering a positive failure culture for continuous workplace innovation

Rudi Bauer Rudi Bauer +1 · Cappuccino with HR

3:30 min

Fostering a healthy environment for failure and experimentation

Rudi Bauer Rudi Bauer +1 · Cappuccino with HR

5:58 min

Adopting a positive failure culture to accelerate business growth

Rudi Bauer Rudi Bauer +1 · Cappuccino with HR

1:02 min

Establishing a constructive failure culture for continuous learning

Rudi Bauer Rudi Bauer +1 · Cappuccino with HR

1:44 min

Fostering a brave failure culture for innovative branding

Rudi Bauer Rudi Bauer +1 · Cappuccino with HR

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