Can failure be the secret ingredient to our success? As we stand on the brink of a new year, it's time to rethink how we perceive failure. Contrary to the traditional view of setbacks as purely negative, this episode unpacks the transformative concept of "failing well," inspired by Amy Edmondson's groundbreaking book, "The Right Kind of Wrong." We dissect failures into three categories: preventable, complex, and intelligent. Understanding these distinctions not only heightens our resilience but also enhances our capacity for growth, both personally and professionally. Through this lens, we discuss the importance of intelligent failure, where venturing into uncharted territories becomes a fertile ground for innovation and learning.

As we prepare for 2025, the challenge is to embrace failure as a driving force for growth. By adopting acronyms like "First Attempt In Learning" and "From Action, I Learn," we emphasize the significance of learning through doing and experimenting. Rather than waiting for unattainable perfection, we learn valuable lessons through action and can use this feedback as a pivotal and far more accurate tool for refinement as opposed to reflection alone. With this mindset, we transform failures into valuable insights, enabling us to stretch our capabilities, refine our strategies, and ultimately, achieve a more enriching and fruitful year ahead. Let’s get started!

What You’ll Learn:

• Why our unhealthy relationship with failure holds us back.

• Embracing intelligent failures as a catalyst for growth.

• F.A.I.L. forward to achieve your goals. 

• How to adopt a growth mindset for failure.

• The importance of learning through action and experimentation

Podcast Timestamps:

(00:00) - What is Your Relationship with Failure?

(04:20) - Not All Failures Are Created Equal

(08:01) - Embracing Intelligent Failures for Innovation

(19:06) – Looking Forward to 2025

Key Topics Discussed:

Positive Leadership, Dealing with Failure, Achieving Success, Pursuing Goals, Amy Edmondson, Preventable Failures, Complex Failures, Intelligent Failures, Continuous Learning, Growth Mindset, Embracing Innovation, Minimum Viable Product, Feedback Through Action, Building Resilience, Insight Through Action, Embracing Challenges, Capitalizing on Opportunities, CEO Success

More of Do Good to Lead Well:

Website: https://craigdowden.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigdowden/

Mentions:
Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well by Amy Edmondson