We have all experienced anxiety, embarrassment, or even a feeling of inadequacy due to a failure in class, on the job, or during an extracurricular activity.
We learn early in life that failure hurts, and it’s hard to initially understand that “failure” is only a failure if you quit or give up. We have all heard success stories created from experiences learned through failure. For example, a product we are all familiar with, WD-40, was named after the 40th test conducted during its creation and was finally successful.
Failing exists in all facets of life. Whether through schooling, business, personal relationships, or sports, the potential for failure is always there. But don’t let that fear of failing hold you back!
Overcoming your failures will ultimately lead you to success, and here are some tips to help you get there!
Overcoming Failure
The thought of failure can be intimidating because it is often associated with potential consequences, such as a damaged reputation or revenue loss.
But failure is not the end of the world, and if you are part of a supportive team, they will offer proper guidance to get you back on the right track.
Everybody fails, even the strongest of leaders. What matters most is how you handle that adversity after the fact.
A strong leader does not point the blame toward others when a mishap occurs. They help to educate, support and encourage their team when learning opportunities arise. They will ensure the same mistake never happens twice.
If you’re failing at a task, try not to sweat it, and don’t take it personally. Practice makes perfect, and your effort is a deciding factor in your failing or succeeding. If you try, you’ll only find those optimal results or that ideal solution.
Embrace the opportunity to learn when it occurs
It may not seem like it, but failing is a great educational opportunity.
Failure can lead to self-discovery, and you may learn a thing or two that will allow you to become a more experienced and effective employee.
Investigate and evaluate everything that led up to your failure. Look to pinpoint where the mistake occurred and what you could have done differently to prevent the problem.
Even though you made a mistake, now you know what not to do in a similar situation in the future.
Feel free to ask your peers questions when trying to understand where you went wrong. Your peers will notice and appreciate your willingness to learn. The quicker you fail, the faster you learn.
Ideate solutions
There’s no better time to indulge in your Innovate to Elevate core value than after a failure.
Now that you know what won’t work, it’s time to brainstorm some solutions that will.
Feel free to get creative, experiment, and try things you’ve never tried before. You never know what breakthroughs you might discover when thinking outside the box.
If you need extra help, don’t be scared to ask for it! Collaboration is key for any effective team.
You’d be surprised what insights you might learn from a teammate’s perspective.
Don’t ever give up!
Even if you find yourself failing at something over and over, keep at it! Succeeding after multiple failures will help you grow as an individual if you keep pushing yourself forward.
Failure can lead to an improved ability to handle stress, a greater sense of confidence and accomplishment, a willingness to take risks, and an increased ability to help and empathize with struggling friends, family members, and colleagues.
Failure is a part of everybody’s life, so don’t be too hard on yourself. And when things don’t go your way, keep your chin up. The future is still in your hands.
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