I play a LOT of online solitaire. I'm regularly ranked in the top 20 in Microsoft Casual Games Solitaire and recently completed their 10,000 point challenge in record time. I ranked in the top 10 in that challenge.
Failure is a given.
Random decks might not be solvable at all. When I was younger, I never understood why my mother loved playing solitaire given that she failed to clear the deck on most hands. I now understand that failure is part of why it's so challenging. Failure is not a bug - it's a feature.
In our pursuit of success and personal growth, it's essential to embrace the valuable lessons that failure offers. One unexpected source of such insights can be found in a seemingly simple game of solitaire. This classic card game, known for its challenging nature, presents a treasure trove of wisdom on perseverance, resilience, and the power of learning through failure. In this blog post, we'll explore the lessons we can glean from solitaire and how they can be applied to various aspects of our lives.
Stick to it – It's OK to Fail – Failing is Learning:
Solitaire teaches us the importance of persistence and accepting failure as an integral part of the learning process. When playing the game, it's not uncommon to encounter obstacles and make mistakes. However, the key is to keep going, learn from each setback, and adapt your strategy accordingly. By sticking with the game, you develop resilience, patience, and an understanding that failure is not the end but an opportunity for learning what not to do, which is valuable. There is an old saying, an expert is someone who has learned all the wrong ways to do something and so knows to avoid them.
It's OK to Put It Down and Pick It Up Later:
Sometimes, when faced with a challenging solitaire game, it's beneficial to take a step back and approach it with fresh eyes later on. Often I find a puzzle I can't solve one day, is easy the next. The puzzle hasn't changed, but my approach has.
Similarly, in life, it's essential to give ourselves permission to step away from a problem or situation that seems insurmountable. By allowing ourselves to take a break and gain a new perspective, we often discover innovative solutions or approaches that were previously elusive. Remember, it's not always about pushing harder; sometimes, it's about creating space for creativity and reflection.
Improvement Comes with Practice:
Solitaire, like any skill, requires practice to master. Each game presents an opportunity to refine your strategies, enhance your decision-making skills, and develop a deeper understanding of the game's mechanics. It also takes time for our brain to learn the patterns and to see them more quickly.
If you follow me, you know that I am both a Humanist and a Behaviorist. The behaviorist in me knows, every game is training my brain to recognize patterns and to see solutions and predict the right course of action more quickly. The reason I am ranked so high is because I not only get the puzzles right, I do them quicker than most of the the other 500k people doing the puzzles on any given day. Practice helps the brain learn patterns it can then use to solve problems easier.
Similarly, in life, improvement and growth come through consistent effort and practice. Embrace the iterative nature of learning, understanding that every failure brings you one step closer to success. With each game of solitaire, you become more adept at spotting patterns, making calculated moves, and optimizing your chances of winning. The same principle applies to any endeavor in life.
How does this relate to Humanistic Management?
Surprisingly, the game of solitaire can offer valuable insights into the practice of humanistic management, particularly in terms of learning through failure. Let's explore how the principles of humanistic management can be related to the lessons we learn from solitaire, ultimately fostering a more compassionate and growth-oriented approach in our personal and professional lives.
Nurturing Individual Growth and Resilience:
In humanistic management, the focus is on supporting the growth and well-being of individuals within an organization. Similarly, solitaire teaches us to embrace failure as an opportunity for personal growth. By encouraging players to persevere through challenging games, solitaire cultivates resilience and an understanding that setbacks are part of the learning process. Relating this to humanistic management, organizations should create an environment that encourages individuals to take risks, learn from mistakes, and grow both personally and professionally.
Learning from Failure and Encouraging Innovation:
Humanistic management promotes a learning culture that values open communication, feedback, and continuous improvement. In solitaire, each failed game presents an opportunity to analyze mistakes and adjust strategies accordingly. Likewise, organizations should foster a culture that celebrates failures as valuable learning experiences. By embracing failure and encouraging individuals to share their lessons learned, organizations can drive innovation, creativity, and the pursuit of new solutions.
Balancing Well-being and Productivity:
Humanistic management recognizes the importance of balancing well-being and productivity, understanding that individuals perform better when their physical, mental, and emotional needs are met. Solitaire teaches us the significance of taking breaks and gaining fresh perspectives to overcome challenges. Similarly, organizations should promote work-life balance, provide support systems, and create spaces for rejuvenation. By doing so, employees can return to their tasks with renewed focus and enhanced problem-solving abilities.
Cultivating a Growth Mindset and Continuous Learning:
A fundamental aspect of humanistic management is the belief in the potential for growth and development in every individual. Solitaire teaches us that improvement comes with practice and a growth mindset. Relating this to humanistic management, organizations should provide opportunities for training, skill development, and learning. Encouraging individuals to continuously enhance their knowledge and skills fosters a sense of fulfillment, personal growth, and a thriving organizational culture.
Learn More:
Are you ready to become a more humanistic leader? Look no further than the Principles of Humanistic Leadership course, offered by Humanist Learning Systems. This course beautifully aligns with the insights we've explored in this blog post, "Embracing Humanistic Management: Lessons from Solitaire on Learning Through Failure." By enrolling in this course, you will delve deeper into the principles of humanistic management and discover practical strategies to implement them in your leadership role. Just as solitaire teaches us the value of perseverance, embracing failure, and nurturing personal growth, this course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to become a compassionate and effective leader.
Course: https://humanistlearning.com/principles-of-humanistic-leadership/
Book: https://humanistlearning.com/book-and-video-principles-of-humanistic-leadership/
No comments:
Post a Comment