Hey there! If you’re in a leadership role or aspiring to be, we have some important ground to cover today. It’s a subject that is often swept under the rug, left in the dark, or just generally avoided. It’s about our failures. Yep, you read that right – those cringe-worthy moments when things didn’t quite go as planned. We’re going to explore why talking about these failures is critical for personal development and team growth.
First things first, let’s admit that as leaders, we tend to shine a spotlight on our achievements and successes, don’t we? That’s perfectly understandable. Success makes us feel good and look good. But the reality is, this constant spotlight on victories and grand outcomes often casts a long, heavy shadow on our failures. This is a shame, really. The truth is, our failures are just as important – if not more so – as our successes.
Think about it for a second. Where did you learn the most in your life or career? Was it during those times when everything was sailing smoothly? Or was it when you were weathering the storm, grappling with setbacks, making mistakes, or even falling flat on your face? If you’re anything like me, I’d wager it was the latter. Our failures are our most profound learning opportunities. They reveal our weaknesses, challenge our assumptions, and prompt us to change and grow.
But here’s the thing: if we, as leaders, don’t acknowledge and discuss our failures, how can we expect our teams to do so? How can we create a culture where mistakes are seen as opportunities to learn and grow, rather than something to be ashamed of? Let’s ponder over this.
In a way, being open about our failures helps humanize us. It shows our teams that we’re not infallible, superhuman entities but real people who mess up, learn, and move forward. And guess what? This openness fosters trust. When leaders are honest about their missteps, it sends a powerful message: “It’s okay to make mistakes. It’s okay to fail. What matters is how we respond to those failures.”
This sense of vulnerability and authenticity can help us build more resilient, creative, and adaptive teams. It fosters a safe environment where people feel encouraged to take calculated risks, experiment, and innovate, knowing that they won’t be penalized for failures but appreciated for their attempts. It’s a fundamental shift from a fear-based culture to a learning-based one.
Moreover, talking about our failures serves as an invaluable teaching tool. As leaders, our experiences – good and bad – offer rich insights for our team members. By sharing how we stumbled, what we learned, and how we adapted, we provide them with real-life lessons they can apply in their own roles. We’re mentoring through storytelling, a powerful way to pass on knowledge and wisdom.
Still, being open about failures isn’t always easy, especially in a world that often equates failure with incompetence. So, how can we start?
First, embrace a growth mindset. See failure not as a reflection of your self-worth but as a stepping stone for improvement. Be the first to acknowledge and analyze your mistakes. Show your team how to learn and adapt from failures, not avoid them.
Second, cultivate a culture of psychological safety. Encourage open dialogue about mistakes and lessons learned. Normalize the idea that failures are not career-enders but growth opportunities.
Finally, celebrate the attempts, not just the outcomes. Applaud the calculated risks, the innovations, and the lessons learned from the journey – successful or not.
Let’s face it – nobody likes to fail. But it’s high time we shift our mindset and conversations around failure. The fact is, as leaders, we don’t spend enough time talking about our failures. By bringing these conversations into the light, we create an environment that embraces mistakes as valuable learning opportunities and propels personal and team development.
As leaders, we need to step off our pedestals of perfection and walk the grounds of reality, where failure is as much a part of the journey as success. After all, the road to success is often paved with the cobblestones of failure.
Embracing and talking about failure might seem unconventional, maybe even uncomfortable. But remember this – progress is born of discomfort. So let’s welcome these discussions with open arms and see how they transform us as individuals and the teams we lead.
Until next time, here’s to failing, learning, and growing!
For more great information on leadership, please check out my book, The Indispensable Leader, on Amazon.