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THE BLUE TREE
Personal
Productivity
CEFR B2
Upper
Intermediate
warm up
Answer the questions below. Then listen to the model answers and think how you could improve yours.
| What’s your approach to mistakes and failures? |
TRANSCRIPT
I see mistakes and failures as opportunities to learn and improve. Instead of feeling bad about them, I try to analyze what went wrong and how I can do better next time. For example, if I make a mistake at work, I ask myself: Was it a problem with my skills, my preparation, or my mindset? This way, I can make changes and avoid repeating the same mistake. I believe that failure is only final if we stop trying.
| How can our approach to mistakes and failures affect the way we operate on a personal and professional level? |
TRANSCRIPT
Our approach to mistakes and failures shapes how we grow both personally and professionally. If we see failure as something shameful, we might avoid risks, stop improving, or even repeat the same errors. But if we treat mistakes as learning opportunities, we become more adaptable and resilient. For example, in a professional setting, admitting a mistake and fixing it quickly can build trust with colleagues. On a personal level, learning from failures helps us develop confidence and problem-solving skills. In the end, how we handle mistakes determines how much we progress.
| Can you remember a time when you learn from your mistake and it really helped you in your work or in private life? |
TRANSCRIPT
Yes, I remember a time when I misunderstood an important email from my manager and made the wrong decision on a project. At first, I felt frustrated, but instead of blaming bad communication, I admitted my mistake and asked for clarification. My manager appreciated my honesty, and we fixed the issue quickly. After that, I started double-checking key details and asking questions before acting. This small change helped me avoid similar mistakes in the future and made me more confident in my work. It showed me that learning from mistakes can actually make us better.
part one
KEY LANGUAGE
Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.
VIDEO
Watch the first part of the video.
COMPREHENSION
Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.
- ⌚ 0:13 How much safer is flying today than in the past?
- ⌚ 0:33 How many people die of medical errors in the USA?
- ⌚ 0:49 What’s the key difference between aviation and medical staff as regards their approach to mistakes?
- ⌚ 0:59 What do doctors fall pray to?
- ⌚ 1:19 What kind of rationalisation do doctors come up with when there is an error?
- ⌚ 1:23 What is the mistake some doctors do when they approach mistakes?
part two
KEY LANGUAGE
Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.
VIDEO
Watch the second part of the video.
COMPREHENSION
Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.
- ⌚ 1:46 How did the aviation industry destigmatised mistakes?
- ⌚ 2:15 What examples illustrate this approach?
- ⌚ 2:38 How does the aviation industry encourage pilots to reveal their mistakes?
- ⌚ 3:09 Why does Nathan feel confident flying, even after the recent accident?
part three
KEY LANGUAGE
Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.
VIDEO
Watch the third part of the video.
COMPREHENSION
Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.
- ⌚ 3:30 What is the first Mistakes Reframe?
- ⌚ 3:56 How can we adjust our environment or leverage technology?
- ⌚ 4:10 What kind of systems should we set up?
- ⌚ 4:38 How can creating daily starts and end rituals help?
- ⌚ What are the advantages of seeing mistakes as system errors?
part four
KEY LANGUAGE
Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.
VIDEO
Watch the fourth part of the video.
COMPREHENSION
Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.
- ⌚ 4:54 What’s the second Mistake Reframe?
- ⌚ 4:59 What’s the trap of considering a mistake as a freak event?
- ⌚ 5:22 What should we assume instead?
part five
KEY LANGUAGE
Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.
VIDEO
Watch the fifth part of the video.
COMPREHENSION
Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.
- ⌚ 5:26 What’s the third Mistakes Reframe?
- ⌚ 5:52 How does the example of a restaurant help us see mistakes as opportunities for growth?
- ⌚ 6:03 How do many successful people approach mistakes and near misses?
part six
KEY LANGUAGE
Go through the flashcards below. Make sure you understand all the words and expressions.
VIDEO
Watch the last part of the video.
COMPREHENSION
Answer these questions. Refer to the information from the video.
- ⌚ 6:19 What is the last Mistakes Reframe?
- ⌚ 6:57 What pattern did David Beckham remember about in 1998 championship?
- ⌚ 7:14 What is Micheal Jordan’s quote about?
- ⌚ 7:28 What do many people think mistakes do to our confidence and are they right?
- ⌚ 7:39 What is the final piece of advice Nathan gives us as regards mistakes?
POLL
Mistakes and failures are not signs of weakness but opportunities for growth. Black Box Thinking teaches us that learning from errors—like in aviation—can lead to continuous improvement in both our personal and professional lives. Instead of ignoring or hiding mistakes, we should analyze them, refine our approach, and create systems that help us improve.
Cast your vote in the poll that revises some of the points from this lesson.
DISCUSSION
REFLECTING ON THE MEETING
Here’s a dialogue between Alita and Pete as they drive back to the office, reflecting on their failed client meeting using insights from Black Box Thinking:
Read (role-play) their dialogues.
Alita: Well… that didn’t go as planned. The client wasn’t convinced at all.
Pete: Yeah, I could tell. They kept asking tough questions, and we didn’t have strong answers. I hate to say it, but we lost their trust.
Alita: I know. But let’s think about this the way we learned in the training. Instead of blaming the client or making excuses, we should treat this as a system failure, not a personal one.
Pete: Right, the idea that mistakes aren’t about individual failure but about improving the process. So, what went wrong in our system?
Alita: For one, we weren’t fully prepared for their objections. We assumed they’d be excited about our proposal, but we didn’t think through the risks they’d see.
Pete: Yeah, and we didn’t ask enough questions before jumping into the pitch. We could have spent more time understanding their concerns instead of just presenting our solution.
Alita: Exactly. And remember what the author said? Failures should be analyzed, not ignored. If we treat this as a one-off, we won’t improve. But if we take a “Black Box” approach, we can figure out what needs to change for next time.
Pete: Good point. So, what can we do differently next time?
Alita: First, we need a better system for preparing meetings. Maybe we should list all possible objections in advance and come up with strong responses.
Pete: And instead of assuming we know what the client needs, we should start by asking more questions and listening before we pitch.
Alita: That would help a lot. And we could do a quick debrief after every meeting—just like they do in aviation—to spot mistakes and make adjustments.
Pete: I like that. It turns failure into a learning tool instead of something to be ashamed of.
Alita: Exactly. Failure is only wasted if we don’t learn from it.
Pete: Okay, let’s write this down when we get back. And next time, we’ll be ready.
OVER TO YOU
Discuss the questions below. Refer to the information from the lesson and your own experience.
 | Can you think of a time when you learned something important from a mistake? What happened? |
| Why do some people find it difficult to admit mistakes? How can we make it easier? |
| What do you think is a better approach—hiding mistakes or sharing them? Why? |
| In what ways can businesses or schools create a “Black Box” approach to learning from failure? |
| How do you usually react when something goes wrong at work or in your personal life? Do you think you could change your approach? |
lesson glossary
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