Building Resilient Leaders by Embracing Failure

Winston Churchill once said, “If you’re going through hell, keep going.” In other words, be resilient.

In today’s ever-changing, highly competitive and sometimes brutal world of business, leaders are called upon to “keep going” even in the face of monumental failure. And although it may seem like hell, experiencing failure and developing the skills and strength to forge through it, builds resilience, and ultimately leads to success.

What is a resilient leader?

A resilient leader is someone who sees failure as a learning opportunity. They are able to manage ambiguity, and readily adapt to changing circumstances and requirements. Resilient leaders tend to have a growth mindset, meaning that they realize they are still learning, embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and see efforts as a pathway to mastery. The opposite of this is a fixed mindset. Someone with a fixed mindset is not open to learning – they believe they already know it all. They are all about “looking smart,” and they avoid challenges and obstacles that might prove otherwise. They avoid negative feedback, even when it might be useful. 

Resilient leaders:

Look for the positive. Resilient leaders focus on the positive in people and in situations. They don’t overlook or ignore potential downsides or issues, but spend their energy on workarounds and solutions rather than worrying about what might go wrong.

See failure as an opportunity. Resilient leaders learn from their mistakes. They reframe failure as another opportunity to get it right, or as a sign they need to take an alternative approach.

Are coachable. Resilient leaders seek and act upon feedback. They admit their mistakes and model an attitude of learning from those mistakes. This, in turn, helps individuals on their team be more willing to risk trying something new.

Manage adversity. Resilient leaders are able to push through adversity and resistance. They figure out a way to overcome problems, and they get back up when they fall. Every time. The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t often comes down to a moment in time – when they want to give up, but instead kick through the wall of resistance and find what they are looking for right on the other side.

Get outside their comfort zone. Resilient leaders recognize that to overcome adversity and break through any barriers that may be preventing them from moving forward, they need to push themselves beyond their comfort level.  

Champion change. Resilient leaders embrace change and are able to provide the leadership and motivation for others to join them in adapting to the change. They provide a clear vision, and through their confidence they inspire others to work toward that vision.

How to build resilient leaders in your organization
In addition to helping your leaders develop the above characteristics, provide them with this framework to help build their resilience. 

When a project or deadline fails, explore these three options each time.  If you are in the business of growing leaders, review this with them in your next coaching or review meeting with them:

1. What went wrong?
2. What would you change next time?
3. What early signs would be your markers next time for adjustments? 

 “The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.” – Nelson Mandela