Skip to content

The biggest job we have is to teach a newly hired employee…

“The biggest job we have is to teach a newly hired employee how to fail intelligently. We have to train him to experiment over and over and to keep on trying and failing until he learns what will work.” quote by Charles Kettering
Download Open image
“The biggest job we have is to teach a newly hired employee how to fail intelligently. We have to train him to experiment over and over and to keep on trying and failing until he learns what will work.”

Charles Kettering

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Teaching new hires to fail smartly encourages iterative learning and eventual success.

In simple terms: Fail smartly to learn and succeed.

Key Takeaway

Encourage experimental learning and resilient failure.

Themes

learning failure experimentation resilience coaching

Mood

pragmatic encouraging

Type

leadership motivational

When to use this quote

  • onboarding
  • skill development
  • product design
  • entrepreneurship

Key Concepts

growth mindset learning organization innovation management

Questions to Reflect On

  • What safe spaces can support intelligent failure?
  • How to balance risk and encouragement?
A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on failure may demotivate without clear guidance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Charles Kettering

Explore all 102 Charles Kettering quotes

More Education quotes

Browse all 37,666 Education quotes