Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Choose to fail

Back in October of 2008, I participated in a leadership workshop that transformed my thinking about failure.
"If you are willing to take risks, then you will fail."
– Dr. Henry Wildeboer
That statement was like a slap in the face to someone who wants to take risks and expects to succeed every time. Intermittent failure is a natural and acceptable consequence of daring and creativity. Slap! What kind of risks are you really taking if there is no chance of failure?

We don't do things hoping to fail. But, how often do we approach new challenges like novices determined to learn figure skating jumps without ever falling. Our crouching caution looks quite comical. It cannot save us from falls, but it can exclude us from excellence.

Am I prepared to experience failure as a leader? Do I accept leaders who fail? Or is failure "not an option," either for them or for me?

1 comment: