Failing Forward: Mastering the Art of Leadership Development Through Failure

Playing it safe and avoiding risks is a recipe for stall, slowdown, and eventual stagnation. Instead, leadership should strive to cultivate a culture of considered risk and creativity; a place where trying and failing and learning from failure are encouraged. A learning culture always outperforms one that relies solely on safe and tried and tested strategies. Failing fast, failing forward, and failing intelligently as a leader and within an organization means that sometimes you win, and sometimes you learn. Remember, what got you here will almost certainly not get you there. This means that if you want different outputs, you need new and better-quality inputs, and that means growth.

When It’s Right to Be Wrong

In the journey of leadership development, failure is not just inevitable; it's essential. It signifies that you're pushing boundaries and trying new things. If you never fail, it means you're not taking enough risks, and you're playing it too safe. The wisdom gained from each failure is what gives you an advantage over yesterday.

Legendary racing driver Mario Andretti once said, "If you’re not slightly terrified going into the corners, you’re simply not going fast enough." This applies to leadership as well. If you aren’t encountering failures, you aren’t pushing your organization fast enough or hard enough. Leaders should see failure not as a setback but as a stepping stone to greater success.

When initiatives fail or product launches don’t go as planned, the reaction of a leader is critical. Ranting and raving only serve to stifle creativity and instill fear. Instead, leaders should create an environment where failure is seen as an opportunity to learn and innovate.

Being wrong sometimes means:

• Learning Something New: Each failure provides a lesson.
• Fostering Creativity: Failures push teams to think creatively.
• Expanding Comfort Zones: It encourages stepping out of comfort zones.
• Accelerating Growth: It drives faster and more meaningful progress.

When It’s Wrong to Be Right

Leadership often carries the expectation of always making the right decisions. However, insisting on being right all the time can be detrimental: it leads to a culture where taking risks is discouraged, and fear of failure prevails. This mindset stifles innovation and hands market share to competitors who are willing to take those calculated risks.

If you demand that every plan must succeed:

• You’re Not Growing Fast Enough: Safe decisions slow down growth.
• Lack of Diversity: You’re not attracting diverse skills and perspectives.
• Stifling Progress: The organization becomes stagnant.
• Instilling Fear: Your team becomes afraid to make mistakes.

Einstein wisely noted, "Show me a man that hasn’t ever failed, and I will show you a man who hasn’t ever achieved anything." Always playing it safe means missing out on groundbreaking achievements.

Try Intelligently – Fail Intelligently

Leaders should encourage their teams to take intelligent risks and embrace failure as a part of the learning process:

• Take Calculated Risks: Encourage well-considered risks. Imperfect Action: Promote taking action and adjusting as necessary.
• Track Outcomes: Learn from all outcomes, expected or otherwise.
• Avoid Micromanagement: Focus on key metrics and avoid stifling creativity.
• Foster Collaboration: Build a culture of collaboration and shared learning.

Failing Intelligently Requires Self-Awareness

Effective leaders possess high levels of self-awareness. They understand the impact of their words and actions and strive to create a culture that values learning from failure. Leaders lacking self-awareness can inadvertently stifle innovation and development.

Edison’s Bright Idea: Lighting the Way with 10,000 Failures

In the late 1870s, Thomas Edison set out to create a practical electric light, a task that led to a spectacular series of failures. His workshop became a shrine to unsuccessful experiments—nearly a thousand bulbs that failed to stay lit. Yet, instead of throwing in the towel, Edison quipped, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” After countless trials, he finally discovered that a carbon filament in an oxygen-free bulb could shine for up to 1,200 hours. So, next time you face a setback, remember… even the great Edison had his share of dark moments before lighting up the world.

Transforming Failure into Success

We believe in the power of persistence and learning from failure. Our program helps leaders document their thoughts, reflections, and feedback, turning setbacks into stepping stones. Self-reflection is not just about writing; it’s about creating a roadmap for continuous improvement. With our expertise and tools, we help you harness the power of self-reflection to develop Emotional Intelligence (EQ) to become the leader you’re meant to be and, more importantly perhaps, the leader your team and business deserve.

By embracing failure and learning from it, you can unlock your full leadership potential and achieve leadership success. Remember, success is not the absence of failure but the persistence to continue in the face of it. At MDL, we are committed to helping you transform your failures into opportunities for growth and achievement.

In summary, fostering a culture of learning and bravery will always outshine a culture of playing it safe. Some you win, and some you learn … but only if you allow both things to happen.