As a leader, we often focus on success and avoid talking about our mistakes. But I’ve learned that failure helps us grow and improve. Here are five ways failure has helped me become a better leader.
- Building strength and flexibility: Failure teaches us to be strong when things are unplanned. It also helps us learn how to handle difficult situations better, making us more flexible leaders who can guide our team through any challenge.
- Being kinder and understanding: Going through failures ourselves makes it easier to understand what others feel when they fail, too – their fear, sadness, or doubt. Now, my leadership style includes open communication so my team feels comfortable sharing their struggles without being judged.
- Growing with challenges: A book called “Fail Forward” by John Maxwell changed the way I think about failure – instead of trying to avoid it at all costs because I know that every mistake brings me closer to success, now I see each one as an opportunity for learning something new! This approach encourages my team members to embrace and actively seek out challenges, knowing that even if they stumble, they will emerge stronger than before!
- Improving decision-making skills: Learning from past mistakes forces you to reconsider your choices carefully, considering different scenarios, potential problems, and alternative outcomes strategies before taking action, which leads to smarter decisions overall and helps lead effectively and confidently both personal and professional lives.
- Building humility and accountability. Failure has humbled me as a leader. It’s reminded me that I’m not infallible and that mistakes are a natural part of progress. Embracing failure has made me more willing to take responsibility for my actions and decisions. This humility has allowed me to foster a culture of accountability within my team, where we collectively learn from mistakes and work toward continuous improvement.
In conclusion, failure isn’t the end of the road for a leader; it’s a stepping stone towards growth and excellence. By embracing failure, I’ve developed resilience, empathy, a growth mindset, enhanced decision-making skills, and a sense of humility. These attributes have collectively transformed me into a more effective and well-rounded leader, capable of guiding my team through both successes and setbacks with confidence.