It’s no surprise that failure isn’t sought out, but it’s all too often that an inherent fear of failure hinders the potential to succeed. A willingness to fail is one of the key factors in determining the probability of success.
This is not to suggest that an attitude of indifference has much merit, but careful and considered risk taking is a wholly different scheme.
Of course, it’s common to hear a mistake followed by misguided attempts at reassurance, “Don’t worry about it!” or “Just keep moving forward!” While ostensibly well meaning, these idioms essentially propagate misinformation. Don’t forget your mistakes, make a note of them! Use them as landmarks to piece together the proper route.
In an article from Business Insider, entrepreneur Dan Pickett talks about the ins and outs of positioning yourself in relation to failure, honing in on 6 pieces of advice that detail the trajectory of those who fail. He helps reveal the difference between negative, knee jerk reactions and positive, considered responses—ultimately creating a blueprint for graceful recoveries on the road to success.
Try – You can neither fail nor succeed without effort; don’t let the chance of failure stop you, because in that case you’ve already lost!
Own – If you were involved in a failure, you’ve got a stake in it—denying that fact or displacing blame is a dangerous way to cope that could easily end up alienating others.
Forgive – Many people find themselves on the opposite side of the spectrum, unable to forgive themselves, thus placing an inordinate amount of weight on both themselves and the situation. Give yourself a break, you’re only human.
Apologize – When and if your failure affects others, which it likely will, make sure to make amends. Acknowledgement and expression of regret can go a long way in regaining trust and goodwill
Perform a retrospective – Reviewing the incident will allow for everyone involved in the oversight a piece of mind and an understanding of what went wrong. This is essential to the avoidance of future mistakes.
Teach – If you’ve already experienced a certain failure, use it as a positive. Experiencing failure is an important learning tool that you possess; it can be used to help others avoid the same fate.
The Mindfield Game is predicated upon these notions. You can’t cross the Mindfield without a certain measure of failure, but you’ll have completed an in-depth experience on how to recover and succeed!