Why learning to fail well can be a superpower with Amy Edmondson

Amy Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, and one of the world’s foremost thinkers on organizational behavior. Best known for her pioneering work on psychological safety, Amy’s research has transformed how leaders build trust, foster learning, and create high-performing teams. Her books—including The Fearless Organization and Right Kind of Wrong—have become must-reads for anyone serious about culture and innovation.In this episode, Amy and Subbu dive deep into the science of failing well, teaming in a hybrid world, and why psychological safety isn’t about being nice but about being brave. We explore the roots of her work, lessons from early setbacks, and what it takes to build resilient, learning-focused organizations in an age of AI, burnout, and constant change.In this episode, we cover:Amy’s unconventional journey—from working with Buckminster Fuller to redefining team learningThe surprising discovery that launched psychological safety researchCommon myths about psychological safetyHow hybrid and remote work are reshaping interpersonal risk-takingThe difference between errors and failures, and why most organizations confuse the twoWhat “intelligent failure” looks like, and how to cultivate itWhy team-based learning is the underappreciated engine of innovationThe link between psychological safety and burnout—and what leaders can do about itA systems-thinking lens for navigating consistent, variable, and novel work contextsAmy’s next big question: Given the larger societal and technological changes around us, how do we make work work for everybody?

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