What do you do if you want to grow as a leader after experiencing a career failure?

There is an interesting concept that I had come across - Mirror and window. The biggest mistake that we tend to do is look out of the window and externalise our failure. A better approach is to look at the mirror and take responsibility. Externalising means that we have become a victim of fate and given up. I understand you might argue that success and failure is dependent on both internal and external factors. But rather than feeling helpless, the only viable option is to keep playing the game and for that the locus of control should be with you. Also the moment you accept, you have defined the starting point. Then planning the journey towards the destination point is relatively easier.

Life is full of ups and downs. What is important is that we learn and grow from our stumbles. If you experience a failure or a set-back, first of all know that this is part of the human experience. Before you create a story around what happened - first take some time to feel your emotions and put some distance between you and the situation. You'll know when you're ready to face the situation and have more perspective on the event/s. At that point, zoom out and look at the big picture. Start with just the facts! Condider these questions: What was your part in the situation? Were there aspects that you could not control? Are there things you would have done differently? What are the lessons I can learn? Be honest and self-compassionate.

Experiencing a career failure can be a daunting experience, but it's essential to embrace failure as a natural part of the leadership journey. Instead of viewing failure as a setback, see it as an opportunity for growth and learning. Reflect on the lessons learned from the failure, identify areas for improvement, and use the experience to fuel your personal and professional development. By embracing failure, you can cultivate resilience and fortitude that will serve you well in your leadership journey.

Failure is learning. When faced with a failure it is helpful to look deeper than the feelings of embarrassment, anger, or pain and reach for the opportunity to learn what one needs for the next success. Resist the urge to connect failure to status.

Embracing failure as the first step? That’s great in theory, but let’s first acknowledge human emotion here, especially if what happened was colossal. Always Step 1: Breathe. At least three deep breaths. Extra points for holding your hand to your heart. Now that you have embraced yourself, go ahead and embrace failure.

We each have a limited perspective, so feedback is essential in filling in the missing picture. We know our actions, but it is through feedback that we can understand the impact. That said, it is important when seeking feedback to consider the source. Everyone is entitled to their perspective, but when soliciting and interpreting feedback - ensure you know where it is coming from, including: biases that may be present, how the feedback giver's perspective is limited, power dynamics that may be at play, etc. Asking for feedback is essential - but remember, you are the one who gets to decide what to do with that feedback. Approach with a curious mindset, and make feedback into a dialogue to engage with - not a directive to comply with.

If we ask for feedback when we are facing a professional setback we will have a very value information that will make us go deeper in our behaviors, actions, decisions made...and take a look in our comfort zone. For me has been useful also take a moment to ask my self for feedback, it allowed me to have a real 360° view of myself that turned it in the departure point to create my new road and get the motivation I needed.

Feedback and reflection are cornerstones in shaping your leadership narrative and fostering growth, especially after a setback. Drawing from my 'Four Quadrants of Leadership', I emphasize the vital role of continuous feedback. It’s not just about active listening; it’s about integrating this feedback into a transformative action plan. Encourage transparent, ongoing communication to refine your vision and strategy, enhancing your approach to leadership. Use this critical input to empower your journey, ensuring each step is informed by thoughtful reflection and strategic adjustments.

Seeking feedback from people is a great way of uncovering your leadership style, decision-making process and areas for improvement. Use it as a self-discovery process before there is another setback. Develop a growth mindset and clarify what your style and process is today, so you don’t have to figure that out in addition to dealing with the setback tomorrow. When I coach leaders, the client gains awareness of their leadership philosophy, style, approach, etc., then implements it in less impactful situations. We make identifying opportunities to learn and grow a regular practice. When there is a setback, we use the situational feedback to continue a forwarding process already in place.

All of us have blind spots and the only way to be aware of those is through feedback. So your organisation might have structured feedback mechanisms like 360 but they are just the starting point. What you do with a 360 feedback and how you use it to grow as an individual and as a leader is what really matters. Personally I have found a mentor at work or a leadership coach helps. If you are in a people centric organization , then you might seek both. Behaviour changes take time and effort and having somebody to handhold you makes the journey a bit less difficult and more productive.

Setting and achieving goals is quintessential to leadership, especially in the face of setbacks. Failure is not definitive; rather, it serves as a valuable lesson. Learning from failures is integral to effective leadership.

Langfristiges Denken ist entscheidend für den dauerhaften Erfolg. Führungskräfte sollten regelmässig strategische Planungsmeetings einberufen, um sicherzustellen, dass die Ziele und Visionen des Unternehmens auch zukünftigen Herausforderungen standhalten.

Após uma falha, é crucial definir metas claras e alcançáveis para o desenvolvimento de liderança. Identifique habilidades específicas a melhorar e crie um plano para adquiri-las. As metas fornecem direção e propósito, ajudando você a progredir com intenção. Devem ser INTELIGENTES: Específicas, Mensuráveis, Alcançáveis, Relevantes e Temporais, para acompanhar o progresso e manter a motivação.

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks and adversity, and it's a crucial trait for leaders, especially after experiencing a career failure. Take proactive steps to build resilience by developing coping mechanisms, practicing self-care, and seeking support from mentors or coaches. Focus on maintaining a positive mindset, staying adaptable in the face of challenges, and persevering in pursuit of your goals. By building resilience, you can navigate career setbacks with grace and emerge stronger and more resilient as a leader.

Definately look at resilience building. What strategies did you use that worked, and when being honest - what didn't work. What additional resources do you need to suceed in the future? What feedback did you have that you can review, and make changes? Have you had a DiSC or pyschometric profile to understand your typical style, and your style under stress. It's so important as a leader that we have a great level of self-awareness, and blind spots, and how you communicate with other styles.

Während kontinuierliche Verbesserung wichtig ist, müssen Führungskräfte auch auf die Risiken von Burnout und Stress achten. Es ist wichtig, dass wir lernen, Erfolge zu würdigen und auch Pausen als Teil des Wachstumsprozesses zu akzeptieren.

Cada "fracaso" debe ser interpretado como "un intento", una oportunidad de crecer, al igual que cuando se construyen naves para programas espaciales, se prevé un alto margen de error, es más, para los diseñadores , esto debe ser así, es beneficioso que haya errores, para que puedan corregirse y llegar al prototipo perfecto y seguro que están buscando, un buen líder, debe saber sobreponerse a las situaciones adversas, y usar toda su energía para crear nuevos modelos de actuación, más adaptados al medio y a las necesidades.En cada situación difícil, hay oculto un regalo de información, y con ello una gran oportunidad de evolución y mejora.

Cada "fracaso" debe ser interpretado como "un intento", una oportunidad de crecer, al igual que cuando se construyen naves para programas espaciales, se prevé un alto margen de error, es más, para los diseñadores , esto debe ser así, es beneficioso que haya errores, para que puedan corregirse y llegar al prototipo perfecto y seguro que están buscando, un buen líder, debe saber sobreponerse a las situaciones adversas, y usar toda su energía para crear nuevos modelos de actuación, más adaptados al medio y a las necesidades.En cada situación difícil, hay oculto un regalo de información, y con ello una gran oportunidad de evolución y mejora.

In the book "Seven habits of highly effective people" my favorite habit is the seventh habit - Shapen the saw which advocates continuous learning to keep yourself relevant, vital and productive. The world in which we operate is increasingly becoming more VUCA. The young team members who join us are much smarter than their team leaders. So if you're expected to lead these smart folks in this VUCA environment, continuous learning and redefining yourself is the only option. So keep sharpening the saw

After experiencing a career failure, it's essential to expand your knowledge and skills to enhance your leadership capabilities. Take advantage of learning opportunities, such as workshops, courses, and professional development programs, to broaden your understanding of leadership principles and practices. Engage in continuous learning by reading books, attending seminars, and seeking out thought leaders in your field. By expanding your knowledge base, you can equip yourself with the tools and insights needed to lead more effectively in the future.

The close out of a current position (I'm calling it that in lieu of "a failure". I don't know about you, but that gives all the ish I now have to do in order to keep money coming in a lot more "Umph" than thinking I failed at something... Personally, I've always taken these times as opportunities to create something new. For me, there's no stronger motivator than knowing I have a finite amount of money to work with (like the payout from a severance package). That's when I gained more mastery using Kajabi, built my website, hired a resume and LinkedIn Profile career coach to revamp my resume and to get my career where I always wanted it to be.

Para crescer como líder, é essencial buscar constantemente novos conhecimentos e habilidades. Além de cursos e workshops, considerar mentorias, palestras e podcasts pode oferecer insights valiosos. Outras opções incluem participar de grupos de discussão ou comunidades online relacionadas à liderança, onde é possível compartilhar experiências e aprender com os outros. A diversidade de fontes de aprendizado pode enriquecer sua compreensão e aprimorar suas habilidades de liderança.

In my younger days, my boss lost about $6k because I made an error in inserting a postal code which the admin office also missed so a formal letter that should have triggered an action, never got to its destination until after the deadline. My oh my - did I learn to cross check and cross-check details after that experience? You can bet I did and right now - I would be the one to always ask the question - 'did you check that' or what are we missing, where is the blind spot? Failure is a life lesson and honestly, it builds character. And as my mum says - everything passes away. Failure only defines you if you stay there and ignore the learning opportunity.

Leadership is a skill that requires practice and refinement, and experiencing a career failure provides an opportunity to hone your leadership abilities. Look for ways to practice leadership in your daily interactions and responsibilities, whether it's leading a project, mentoring a colleague, or facilitating a team meeting. Seek feedback from peers and supervisors to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement, and actively work on developing your leadership skills. By practicing leadership consistently, you can cultivate confidence and competence as a leader, regardless of past setbacks.

Realise that failures help us develop our technical competence and also helps us develop empathy. As regards, technical competence, I have made errors at work in so many ways. The sting serves as a reminder to work on my process and keep developing myself. As regards empathy, it reminds me of my humanness, keeping me grounded and teaching me to rely on my team for advice and support. It also helps me see the errors of others with more empathy. I can identify with their growth process and provide them with the support I got or wish I got when I was in a similar situation. It is almost impossible to connect with a leader who hasn't experienced failures or refuses to acknowledge them in their own lives.

First, be patient with yourself and allow yourself time to heal and process the experience. Recognize that setbacks are a natural part of the leadership journey and that growth takes time. Second, surround yourself with a supportive network of colleagues, mentors, and friends who can offer guidance, encouragement, and perspective as you navigate your leadership development journey. Finally, maintain a growth mindset and remain open to new experiences, challenges, and opportunities for learning and growth. By considering these additional factors, you can turn a career failure into a catalyst for personal and professional growth, emerging stronger and more resilient as a leader.

Vou contar sobre minha experiência pessoal. Eu fracassei feio na minha primeira experiência como líder. Foi triste e muito dolorido. Por um tempo eu acreditei que a liderança não era para mim. E foi preciso começar de novo, mas desta vez do jeito certo, entendendo que para ser um bom líder não é o quanto você sabe tecnicamente, mas sim o quanto você está disposto a usar o que você sabe para ajudar as pessoas do time a crescerem também, pois a verdadeira liderança não está baseada nas hard skill's que você domina, mas o quanto você faz de diferença na vida das pessoas com as suas soft skill's.

In my experience the most important thing to do is acknowledge the failure and not seek to put the blame on any one else in your team. It is also important to reflect on why you failed - was it that you misread the problem? Did you try to put something in place that had worked for you before but had not given enough time to fully understand your current context. Take feedback from people around you. Breathe! Take some time and then start again. If you are defeated every time you fail you won't get far.

Scheitern ist ein Zustand, in dem ein angestrebtes Ziel oder Vorhaben nicht erreicht wird. Es kann verschiedene Gründe für das Scheitern geben, wie zum Beispiel unzureichende Vorbereitung, falsche Entscheidungen, mangelnde Ressourcen oder unvorhergesehene Umstände. Scheitern kann in verschiedenen Lebensbereichen auftreten, sei es im beruflichen, persönlichen oder spirituellen Bereich. Es ist wichtig zu akzeptieren, dass es eine subjektive Erfahrung ist und von Person zu Person unterschiedlich empfunden werden kann. Mein Scheitern mag anderen peinlich erscheinen, mir persönlich erschien es immer als eine Gelegenheit an inneren Ressourcen zu gewinnen, die der äußeren Welt standhalten. Auch der Meinung und dem Urteil anderer.

El fracaso profesional es el mejor maestro, porque cuando crees que ya llegaste dónde tenías que llegar o que ya hiciste lo que tenías que hacer, el fracaso te da una bofetada para despertarte e invitarte a seguir creciendo, revisándote y preguntar a otros: ¿qué piude hacer distinto? No tener miedo de preguntar a otros, el ego puede ser tu tumba si no lograr regularlo.