✈️ “Katja, what have you been doing this summer?”

Well… among other things, re-reading (yes, re-reading!) a book that’s just as powerful the second time around:
📘 Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed.

I don’t often re-read books – there are simply too many still on my list. But thanks to a WhatsApp discussion with two wonderful colleagues I was reminded of Syed’s work, I picked this one back up. And I’m so glad I did.

I had forgotten how striking the opening chapter is, with the story of Elaine Bromiley, who died during what should have been a routine anaesthetic. This wasn’t just a tragic mishap, it was the result of a system that failed to notice and respond to mounting danger.

And that’s exactly what this book is about: not just reacting to failure, but building cultures that learn from it. That celebrate iteration. That pause before blame. That evolve.

Some insights that hit home (again):
🔁 The paradox of success: it’s built on failure
🎯 The guided missile analogy; failure isn’t the opposite of progress, it is the mechanism of progress. Feedback is course correction.
🧠 We’re hardwired to oversimplify complex systems
⚖️ Winners need both innovation and discipline
⏸ Pausing before blame can change everything

And still just as powerful:

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” — Henry Ford

It’s not perfect, though. Syed credits the Ancient Greeks with initiating the idea that failure can be productive — and while that may be true in Western intellectual tradition, it’s too narrow a lens. Other cultures show similar thinking:
– In Ancient Egypt, the evolution from the Bent Pyramid to later designs shows clear adaptation and learning through trial.
– In Ancient Chinese philosophy, concepts like balance, reflection, and continuous refinement point to a mindset of growth through iteration — not shame.

🎯 Whether you’re in aviation, healthcare, education, or business — this book is a must-read (or re-read) for anyone serious about creating systems that improve over time.

👀 Next up: Rebel Ideas — a timely revisit to another Syed classic, and why diverse thinking isn’t just “nice to have,” but mission-critical.

📚 Curious: what’s a book you’ve re-read that hit differently the second time?

#BlackBoxThinking #LearningCulture #LearnFromMistakes #Facilitation