How to Keep Going Despite Failure

Each of us makes mistakes. If you’re living and leading, failure is inevitable. Some mistakes involve trusting the wrong people, crumbling infrastructure, a lack of proper guardrails, missed financial projections, or career-altering blunders. Now certainly, some of us make more mistakes than others. For instance, if you’re in a leadership position, you have more opportunities to make mistakes.

So how do we process missing the mark? How do we move forward after we fail, especially when others publicize the failure?

A Gift in Unusual Packaging

First, it is imperative that we view failure as an invitation to learn and grow. It can be a gift in an unusual packaging. What is the mistake teaching us about ourselves, our systems or our work? Personally, when I can glean lessons from failure, or grasp the “why” behind the loss, processing the mistake is much easier.

Next, we must get the support we need to allow us dig in and try again. We must avoid facing our struggles, processing every detail, or overcoming life’s challenges by ourselves. We need support which can come in the form of counseling, professional coaching, circle keeping, etc. Some leaders give up because they lack support.

Remember Your Why

Finally, we should examine who benefits and who suffers if we give up after failure. If we are moving critical work, it is benefiting people we may never see. If we succumb to shame, we are short-circuiting work that serves community.

Reject Shame

I get it. Sometimes when we make a mistake, shame can tell us we should give up, or try something new. We must silence every voice and every suggestion that encourages us to throw our hands up in defeat. The truth is we can learn as much from failure as we can from winning streaks. Quitting after a mistake forecloses on the opportunity for continued growth and renewal. And it denies the people we engage with access to the work we lead.

Finally, refusing to quit is a characteristic of enduring leadership and sustained work. Leaders and organizations that have endured for decades stay effective because they satisfy needs, excel in their work, and also refuse to give up. They’ve lasted because they have weathered many storms without surrendering to shortfalls.

It doesn’t matter what comes their way, they are determined that they will not quit. And if they are tempted to quit, they may slow down or temporarily pause but eventually try again. If you want to move lasting work, have an unshakable impact, or leave a legacy for which your family and colleagues can be proud, be the person who refuses to quit or be permanently silenced.

You’re Not Alone

If you’re navigating a challenge, Spotlight PR can help you. Visit the consultation button at the top right hand of our website, so you can get the support you need to continue making a difference.

Jennifer R. Farmer, aka The PR Whisperer,® is the principal of Spotlight PR LLC. Be sure to check out other blogs and subscribe for regular communications updates.