How can we choose to experience failure in a positive way?
Some of the worst things that happen to us in business can turn out to be blessings. Rejection, disappointment, and setbacks can make us feel defeated and disillusioned, but these experiences can also become opportunities for growth and development. The mistakes and failures we encounter as managers can help us learn valuable lessons that we can use to develop our skills and improve our performance in the future.
One great example of a manager who turned failure into a learning experience is Steve Jobs. When Jobs was fired from Apple in 1985, it was a crushing blow to his ego and his career. However, rather than giving up or wallowing in self-pity, Jobs used his time away from Apple to explore new technologies and innovations. His experiences with NeXT Computer and Pixar Animation Studios gave him new insights into consumer products and entertainment, which he brought back to Apple when he returned to the company in 1997. Jobs’ failures ultimately helped him become a better leader and a more successful entrepreneur.
So, the next time you encounter a setback or experience failure in your role as a manager, remember to approach the situation with an open mind and a willingness to learn. Because we then have a chance to learn from that experience, gain new knowledge, and move forward even more positively and with more certainty than before. Ask yourself what you can take away from the experience and how you can use those lessons to improve your performance going forward. By embracing failure as an opportunity for growth and development, you can become a more effective and successful leader in your business.
For me, a life without trying and a life without failure was never an option.
Why is Failure important as an entrepreneur
Because I have a growth mindset, I believe that we learn or win from every experience, and I believe that every outcome in life – good or bad – is helpful to us in some way, shape or form.
It all comes down to how we view failure… to me; it’s all about how we view the word failure and its meaning.
If it raises negative connotations, it will be perceived as a negative outcome, positive connotations, positive outcome.
We’ve all heard the saying rejection is redirection … and it’s so true. It all comes down to our perspective and to how we choose to view these situations.
That’s right; we get to choose the way we see it.
How a growth mindset can change our approach to business decisions
So, we can choose to see the setbacks as something to stop us in our tracks. Or we can choose to see them as bumps in the road and essential learnings and opportunities that move us closer to our goals in life. To me, the only failure would be giving up because I believe so strongly in what I do, we all should or what’s the point?
The beauty of learning to operate in a growth mindset zone is that you approach decisions and challenges with a positive attitude, seeing them as opportunities for growth rather than as roadblocks. Making decisions with a positive attitude can lead to better outcomes, as you are not overwhelmed by fear or negativity. Instead, you are able to think through problems more creatively and find solutions that may not have been immediately apparent.
For example, a leader with a growth mindset might approach a business decision by considering what they can learn from the outcomes, even if it may not ultimately lead to the desired result. They might take calculated risks, and if their decision does not work out, they would view it as an opportunity to evaluate the process and make adjustments for the future.
When you have a growth mindset, you are able to overcome setbacks more easily because you see them as opportunities to learn and adjust your approach. This mindset grants you the freedom to learn from mistakes and to focus on growth, both for yourself and your organization.
When I think of failure, I also think of opportunity; they come hand in hand, we win, or we learn… it’s all part of the journey.
This mindset or thought process, coupled with learning the business skills to help you achieve success – makes you an unstoppable machine.
And that’s where we come in.
Our Motivational Intelligence Solutions- the first of its kind – will help you break through comfort zones, fears, and self-doubt, define and communicate impactful goals, implement tactical strategies and put in place systems that really work for you, your business or your team.
James Fleming
The Power Within Training
The Motivational Intelligence Company
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