“Failing forward” is a phrase often heard in the business world. As much as we tell ourselves, “nobody is perfect,” and “mistakes happen,” what matters most is our response to them. Oprah Winfrey is quoted as saying, “Learn from every mistake because every experience, encounter, and particularly your mistakes are there to teach you and force you into being more of who you are.”
Learning is more a function of recognizing, reinforcing, and refining what is already known – so put those mistakes to use and learn from them!
In our continued quest to break down complex issues and offer simple solutions, we have these tips from our team’s real-world experience and education to help you “fail forward” and turn those mistakes into success:
- Once a mistake happens, ensure stress levels are under control. See our Tips For Success Over Stress blog.
- Acknowledge the mistake and apologize if needed. Ownership is an act of courage that will be remembered.
- Take a step back and analyze the mistake. Insight into how to avoid repeating the same mistake is somewhere in the answers to these questions:
- What was I trying to do?
- What went wrong?
- When did it go wrong?
- Why did it go wrong?
- Learn from your newfound insight and move forward toward success.
Stephen Hawking once said, “One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect… Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist.” Past mistakes are a part of the learning experience. Embrace mistakes, learn from them, and continue your journey to better yourself (and the world around you).
How can we help?
Discover how Success Trek can be your partner as you navigate toward Improved Business Strategies, Empowered Leaders & Teams, and Strengthened Workflow Processes. We are here to be your sounding board and discuss any workplace situation where you might need an outside perspective. Contact Theresa, or visit our Contact Us page to schedule a 30-minute Complimentary Conversation.
