The Art Of Bouncing Back: Leadership Lessons From Setbacks

Curiosity, compassion, and connection

Setbacks are an inevitable part of any leadership journey. Whether it’s a project that didn’t go as planned, a team that’s not performing up to expectations, or a personal failure, setbacks can be frustrating and demoralizing. However, it’s important to remember that setbacks can also be an opportunity for growth and learning. In this article, we’ll explore some key leadership lessons HR leaders can learn from setbacks and how they can use these lessons to become more effective leaders. 

How do we deal with failure? Let’s delve into the crucial lesson that accepting setbacks and failures is a natural part of growth. Unfortunately, we live in a world where success often equates with perfection, where every mistake is seen as a weakness. However, this mindset only stifles our progress and prevents us from reaching our full potential. It’s time to reject the notion that failure is a negative thing and embrace it as a necessary part of our journey. 

 

The Concept of Failing Forward

The concept of “failing forward” involves using failures as opportunities for growth and learning. This lesson is vital in today’s fast-paced world, where the pressure to succeed can be overwhelming. But it’s important to remember that failure is not the end; it’s just a detour on the road to success.

In my book, Campfire Lessons For Leaders, I feature a few powerful examples of facing setbacks and using the experience to push forward. One such example is Michael O’Brien, founder of Peloton Executive Coaching. Michael had a life-threatening accident that showed him the power that comes with living intentionally and the importance of processing his emotions. He was hit head-on while riding his bicycle by a Ford Explorer, and he had to be medevacked to the hospital to face hours upon hours of surgery that left him with emotional and physical scars.

Embracing the power of mindfulness helped Michael connect to the idea of failing forward. He had to learn to embrace his scars and transform his outlook on life, recognizing the beauty and resilience they represent. Michael’s story is a testament to the power of failing forward and how it can help you overcome setbacks and achieve great things.

The Power of a Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is essential. When you adopt a growth mindset, you see failures as opportunities to learn rather than an indication of your abilities. It provides a framework for failing forward because it prescribes embracing challenges and persistence through obstacles. For example, don’t let it paralyze you when you make a mistake. Instead, analyze what went wrong and use that knowledge to improve your future performance. 

The power of a growth mindset can be seen in the story of Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx. When Blakely was starting, she faced numerous setbacks and rejections. However, she refused to let these failures define her. Instead, Sara embraced a growth mindset and used her failures as opportunities to learn and grow. For example, when trying to get her product into stores, she faced numerous rejections. However, she didn’t let this discourage her. Instead, she used the feedback she received to improve her product and pitch. Eventually, her persistence paid off, and Spanx became a huge success. Blakely’s story is a testament to the power of a growth mindset and how it can help you overcome setbacks and achieve great things.

Experimentation and Risk-Taking

Another key element of failing forward is experimentation. Trying new things and testing different approaches to achieve your goals involves taking risks and being willing to fail in pursuing learning and growth. Experimentation is critical to failing forward because it allows you to explore new ideas, open up new possibilities, and think outside the box. When you experiment, you identify what works and what doesn’t, test out different approaches, and learn from your successes and failures. 

When you have a growth mindset and embrace experimentation, you become more resilient in the face of failure. You don’t see failure as a dead end but as a stepping stone to success. You understand that failure is an inevitable part of the learning process and that taking risks and trying new things to grow is necessary. So, the next time you encounter a setback, embrace a growth mindset and experiment to fail forward.

Grounded Leadership: Curiosity, Compassion, and Connection

Failing forward is a critical part of becoming a grounded leader, a leader who can stay calm in chaotic situations and lead with intention. My framework for Grounded Leadership rests on 3Cs: Curiosity, Compassion, and Connection. Here’s how failing forward relates to these three key pillars.

Failing forward involves connecting with yourself and your goals by recognizing that setbacks and failures are a natural part of growth. By embracing failure as a necessary part of the journey, you cultivate self-compassion and self-awareness, acknowledging that mistakes and failures do not define you. 

Regarding curiosity, failing forward involves being open to learning and experimentation. You can permit yourself to explore new ideas, test different approaches, and learn from the results. Curiosity helps us overcome self-pity or staying stuck in our disappointment. We can find our course when we get curious about what happened, what could have gone differently, what to focus on next, and what opportunities now lie before us. Failure does not reflect who we are, how skilled we are at any given thing, or our capacity to learn. It simply indicates that it’s time to get curious. 

Finally, having compassion for yourself allows you to stay focused on your goals, maintain a positive attitude, and persevere through setbacks. Failure is just learning in action, and reframing “failure” and “continuous learning” is the compassionate approach as you find your way forward.

Finding Your Risk Tolerance

The Startup of You, a book by Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, and Ben Casnocha, co-founder of Village Global, introduces the concept of Plan A, Plan B, and Plan Z. Plan A is what we want to see happen. We always have Plan B in our minds, and Plan Z is the absolute worst-case scenario. Understanding the potential outcomes can help us feel more secure in taking risks, knowing that we have backup plans. 

We also need to be comfortable with the level of risk we are taking. Some people are okay with going all in, while others need more safety nets. However you choose to move forward, the critical part is the willingness. You can choose your risk tolerance, have backup plans, stumble along the way, and achieve great success. 

Setbacks are an inevitable part of any leadership journey. However, by embracing failure as a necessary part of the journey, adopting a growth mindset, experimenting, and having compassion for yourself, you can learn from your failures and become a more effective leader. Remember that failure is not the end but rather a stepping stone to success. By taking risks, experimenting, and having backup plans in place, you can achieve great things and become a more resilient leader.

Tony Martignetti is a leadership advisor, coach, best-selling author, podcast host, and speaker. He elevates leaders and equips them with the tools to navigate through change and unlock their true potential. Tony is the author of Climbing the Right Mountain and Campfire Lessons for Leaders.