Recovering From The Sting Of Failure

All people, even great people, suffer the sting of failure. Here’s how to learn from it.

Previously published on Forbes

Failure is at least a little uncomfortable for all of us, and that’s because it brings up feelings that we typically try to avoid in life. In his article Teaching Smart People How to Learn, Chris Argyris says there are four things we try to avoid when experiencing a failure: embarrassment, threat, feeling vulnerable and feeling incompetent.

But the reality is, we are in the midst of a collective, global ordeal. Things are changing and changing fast. Technology has and will continue to impact the very essence of the way we work. The Great Resignation has people asking if their job is the right fit for them. Work from home and work from anywhere seems like it is here to stay, for the near future at least. And the ongoing pandemic continues to cause personal and organizational starts and stops that we simply aren’t prepared for. Mistakes and failures are bound to happen. We don’t know this landscape or what will unfold next.

Yet so many leaders shy away from learning through mistakes and failure. It stings. This is when it’s good to remember that all people, even great people, suffer the…