Anderson believes leaders should expect employees to make mistakes when trying out new ideas, but a workplace that punishes every mistake discourages initiative and innovation. Organizations that treat failure as unacceptable often see employees stop taking risks, Anderson said. Workers who avoid mistakes also avoid breakthroughs, he said, choosing to stay in their comfort zones instead of pushing for improvement. The takeaway for leadersAccording to Anderson, making new mistakes is part of learning, but repeating the same ones raises a different concern. Organizations reach higher levels of performance when employees feel empowered to take smart risks, learn quickly, and avoid repeating past mistakes, he says.