Embracing Failure

From an early age, we're taught that failure is something to be avoided. It's often seen as a sign that we didn't study hard enough or that we slacked off. This perception of failure as something shameful tends to stick with us well into adulthood. However, in my journey as an agile coach and scrum master, I've come to see failure in a different light.

Failure, from my perspective, is a powerful driver for personal growth and innovation. It's something that should not only be accepted but embraced. There's a significant difference between merely wanting to be able to accept failure and genuinely embracing it, both as individuals and within companies. With this post, I hope to shift our perspective on failure and encourage a more positive, growth-oriented mindset.

The paradox of failure

We’ve all been conditioned to think of failure as a bad thing—almost instinctively. It’s an automatic reaction: failure means you didn’t try hard enough, you messed up and should be embarrassed. But at the heart of this paradox lies a contradiction. While we’ve learned to associate failure with negativity, it actually presents valuable learning opportunities.

Here’s the thing: mistakes are part of trying something new. They are an inevitable part of exploration and innovation. When we're learning new things, mistakes aren't just normal- they are necessary.

Think about learning to play a musical instrument. It involves hours of practice and countless missed notes. It's very rare that you pick up a music instrument and play Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata without hesitation or practice 😉. Similarly, scientists construct hypotheses, test them, analyze the outcomes, and draw conclusions. Any result, whether expected or not, is a "good" outcome. It is new information that contributes to a deeper understanding of the problem.

It's easy for us to recognize and acknoledge these two examples: of course they can make mistakes!
But it's much harder to be kind to ourselves when we try to apply the same principles to our professional lives. Why?

Cultivating a Culture or Learning

Most organisations are not that good in cutivating a culture of learning. For example, what happens when errors are discovered in your organisation? Does blame take precedence over problem-solving? Is the question "Whose fault is this?" the first concern? Why?

Remember, a culture of fear will always stifles or hinder growth! People will cling to what worked in the past and stop learning and trying new things. Innovation only happens in a safe and supportive culture. If you foster a more positive and open culture, the opposite will happen. Leaders who openly discuss their mistakes create an environment where others will do the same. Being open about these challenges is the first step towards learning from them. Trying to avoid them is a fool's errand.

Fostering a Culture of Trust

Leaders frequently face conflicting expectations. They are tasked with nurturing employee development while simultaneously ensuring efficiency. They're always constrained by limited resources. Striking the balance between these demands can be challenging, yet good leaders possess the skills to navigate this balance effectively.

The antidote to fear is trust. Trust does not imply that teams or individuals will not make mistakes. It should never be the goal to eliminate them! The goal is to have faith in your teams when mistakes inevitably do happen. Employees are hired for a reason: because they're intelligent and capable. Treat them as such and trust them!

Building trust takes time, but it starts with leaders that demonstrate their trustworthiness through their actions and how they respond to failure. Be open, transparent and authentic so people know how you will react when faced with mistakes.

Embracing failures

Embracing failure requires a shift in perspective and culture. Mistakes open doors to learning and progress. Just as a musician's skill is honed through countless attempts and practice, individuals and teams can only reach new heights by acknowledging and embracing their failures. This mindset empowers us to evolve, innovate and thrive.

So, let's rethink failure. Let's welcome it.
If you want to win, you have to be willing to lose.

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash