Learn from Mistakes, Don't Punish Them
Mistakes are inevitable in any workplace, but how we respond to them defines the health of an organisation. My career - spanning military aviation and senior roles in global companies like dnata - has shown me that a just culture is the key to moving beyond blame. It transforms errors into opportunities for learning, improves safety, and fosters trust.
In this post, I’ll share what just culture means, why it matters, and how leaders and HR professionals can begin applying its principles today. Whether you’re managing a team or shaping organisational policy, this approach will help you unlock your team’s full potential.
What Is Just Culture?
At its core, just culture is a leadership framework that focuses on learning rather than punishing mistakes. It distinguishes between three types of behaviours to guide accountability:
Human Error: Unintentional mistakes (e.g., a lapse in attention). These require learning and support, not blame.
Risky Behaviour: A conscious but suboptimal decision (e.g., cutting corners under pressure). Coaching and education are the best remedies here.
Reckless Behaviour: Deliberate disregard for rules or safety. In these cases, disciplinary action may be appropriate.
By understanding and addressing the root causes of errors—whether systemic issues or behavioural choices - organisations can reduce repeated mistakes and foster innovation.
Why Just Culture Matters
During my time in military aviation, mistakes could have devastating consequences. To avoid repeating errors, we needed a framework that encouraged openness and collaboration. Later, I had the privilege of embedding just culture into dnata’s policies, demonstrating its power across industries.
The benefits are clear:
Improved Safety: By focusing on systems rather than scapegoating individuals, you create a safer environment for everyone.
Enhanced Trust: Employees feel confident reporting errors or near-misses, knowing they won’t be unfairly punished.
Better Performance: Learning from mistakes drives continuous improvement and innovation.
Practical Steps for Leaders and HR Professionals
1. Reframe Accountability
When errors occur, ask these questions:
What about our systems or processes contributed to this mistake?
Was this an unintentional error, a risky decision, or reckless behaviour?
Use the answers to guide your response, focusing on fairness and learning rather than blame.
2. Create a Safe Reporting Culture
Implement anonymous reporting systems for employees to flag errors or concerns.
Regularly communicate that reporting mistakes is a sign of professionalism, not failure.
3. Lead by Example
Share your own mistakes and the lessons you’ve learned. This normalises vulnerability and builds trust.
Be consistent in how you respond to errors, ensuring fairness across all levels of the organisation.
4. Focus on Systemic Improvement
When errors occur, look beyond the individual to identify root causes:
Were procedures unclear?
Was training inadequate?
Were team members under undue pressure?
Address these systemic issues to prevent future mistakes.
5. Celebrate Learning
Recognise and reward cases where employees identified risks or suggested improvements.
Turn lessons learned from errors into team-wide learning opportunities.
My Experience: Just Culture in Action
In every role I’ve held, I’ve made it a priority to implement just culture principles. While working for dnata, I helped weave just culture into the organisation’s core policies. The results were clear: fewer repeated errors, a safer work environment, and greater trust among employees and leadership.
This experience taught me that just culture isn’t just a safety framework - it’s a leadership philosophy that empowers people to succeed.
Let’s Build a Just Culture Together
If you’re a leader or HR professional looking to improve safety, trust, and performance in your organisation, I can help. With my experience implementing just culture across industries, I offer tailored training and guidance to bring these principles to life in your workplace.
Ready to Get Started?
Learn how just culture can transform your team.
Train leaders to apply its principles effectively.
Develop policies that sustain a culture of fairness and learning.
Reach out to discuss how we can make your workplace safer, fairer, and more innovative. Let’s learn from mistakes - together.
