Failing Well

How good are you at failing?

We all know that classic line, “you learn more from your mistakes than your successes” but when you hear that after failing your driving test for the fourth time it doesn’t feel particularly true. ????

But in the workplace, there can be such an aversion to admitting mistakes that it can create problems. We push blame onto others, look to bury mistakes, and get defensive.

Wouldn’t it be better if work could be a safe place to talk about the mistakes we’ve made and what we’ve learnt along the way?

“So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great, good fortune.” - Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Our work life can go awry sometimes. We all make mistakes. Sometimes we make the same ones a few times, but hopefully fail a little less hard each time.

The idea of failing well is something people have explored in detail and it’s interesting that a lot of it comes down to allowing yourself to improvise and experiment.

Perhaps, if a few leaders at work had the confidence to talk about the times they’ve failed, it would create a better work culture. One that pushes new bold ideas forward, adapts when things don’t instantly go to plan, and supports people to try and fail as well as succeed.

Written by Jason Connolly