Here's how you can conquer the fear of failure and take risks in your educational leadership career.

Indecisiveness is the barrier attached to fear—fear of imposter syndrome, fear of making a mistake and never recovering from it. So, we then allow ourselves to make no decisions at all. We remain stagnant, running in place in hopes of the next great push or the next glowing sign that adjusts the track and shifts us into a new trajectory. The next thing will always be the next. I always tell my teams that success is the gold standard. Then, I allow them the leeway and freedom to be creative and think outside the box.

Embrace the power of iteration. Don't be afraid to try new approaches, even if they don't work perfectly the first time. Iterate, learn, and refine. Each "failure" brings you one step closer to finding the right solution. Stay flexible, be willing to adapt, and remember that progress often happens through small, incremental steps rather than giant leaps.

Before taking significant steps, responsible risk analysis is essential for educational leaders. By evaluating potential outcomes, positive and negative, and preparing contingencies, leaders can make informed decisions that balance innovation with prudence. This strategic approach not only mitigates anxiety around risk-taking but also enhances the likelihood of successful outcomes in educational leadership.

Resilience is foundational for successful educational leaders, enabling them to rebound from setbacks with renewed determination. By emphasizing small victories to bolster confidence and prepare for larger risks, leaders can cultivate resilience through consistent effort and a positive perspective on challenges.

- Begin by setting aside time to reflect on your achievements, challenges, and areas for improvement, which helps you gain perspective and build resilience. - Acknowledge your fears and identify their root causes, then reframe them as opportunities for learning and development. - Celebrate small wins and recognize that setbacks are part of the journey toward growth and innovation. - Engage in continuous learning by seeking feedback, attending professional development programs, and staying updated on educational trends. - Surround yourself with supportive mentors and peers who encourage you to take calculated risks and provide valuable insights.

Take notes, both mental and written notes of your progress, what works and doesn’t work for you. If something is working, see for how long and under what circumstances, if something is not working, see why is not working, if the issue is on your side, keep yourself updated by attending either virtual or in person training, if the issue is the receiving end, offer your talents/products to a different client. Being well prepared will improve your confidence level and the one of those around you.

One important fact about this is that there's never the best time to start if you begin to consider the risk so usually my candid advise has always been. just start don't think about the Risk too much because if you consider the risk touch you will end up not adding value to your life thereby losing out in the labour world. 😉