Failure of the Month

A humorous, voluntary format where team members share a mishap or a pedagogical "stumble." The focus is on the learning effect and the realization: "We are all human." The method is also fantastic for students to reduce performance pressure.

✍️ Brigitta Rupp, PBÖ
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⏱️ Duration Up to 15 minutes
🔄 Frequency Once a month
👥 Target Group Students, Teachers, School Management
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Purpose

It promotes psychological safety "Security".
It removes the pressure to be perfect "Freedom".
Through humor, the brain relaxes "Fun", and the team learns from mistakes together instead of hiding them.

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Use and Learning Outcomes

  • 1. Establishing a positive error culture.
  • 2. Reducing shame and fear of failure.
  • 3. Promoting authentic behavior among staff.
  • 4. Collective learning from "mishaps" (preventing similar issues for others).
  • 5. Loosening hierarchies through transparency.
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Wellbeing References

Basic Needs

🕊️ Freedom 🛡️ Security 😊 Fun

Quality Dimensions

School culture Performance assessment Self-care Competences
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Details & Preparation

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Room Requirements

Informal setting (staff room, coffee corner).

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Time for preparation

2 minutes

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Preparation

Prepare a "traveling trophy" or symbolic object (e.g., a golden lemon or a plush penguin).

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Materials

Trophy
Small card for the "lesson learned"

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Sequence of Steps

1

Invitation

⏱ 1 minute
In a team meeting, the moderator briefly explains the method and asks for volunteers for the "Failure of the Month."
Important: No one is forced!
2

Storytelling

⏱ 3 minutes
A colleague briefly tells their story (e.g., "I handed out the exam copies for the wrong subject" or "I showed up in the wrong classroom").
The other colleagues just listen, no comments, no questions.
3

The Learning

⏱ 2 minutes
Now the colleague explains his learning outcomes: What did I learn from this? What will I do differently now?
4

Recognition & "Crowning"

⏱ 2 minutes
The team gives sincere applause to the colleague, not for the failure, but for the courage to share.
The trophy is handed over.
5

Nomination

⏱ 1 minute
The current winner now looks out for the next "hero of the mishap" for the following month and invites a colleague to prepare his story for the next meeting.
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Reflection & Tips

Reflection

Does it feel liberating to know that others aren't perfect either?
Did laughing together lower the stress level?

Tips for Implementation

School Management should lead by example! When the principal shares their own mistake, it opens up the space for everyone else.