Ep 154: Failing Well—GLN President and CEO David Ashcraft
Nov 5, 2024
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David Ashcraft, President and CEO of the Global Leadership Network, shares his insights on navigating the tricky waters of failure. He emphasizes that failure is inevitable for leaders, but how they respond is crucial for growth. Through personal anecdotes, David illustrates the transformative power of embracing failure, turning setbacks into lessons. He discusses the importance of feedback in creating a supportive culture, and advocates for calculated risks as a pathway to effective leadership. A must-listen for aspiring leaders!
Embracing failure as a vital part of leadership fosters personal and organizational growth through valuable lessons and renewed perspectives.
Creating a high feedback culture within organizations encourages open discussions about failures, enabling leaders and teams to learn and adapt effectively.
Deep dives
The Weight of Failure
The fear of failure is discussed as a significant barrier that leaders often face, leading to feelings of disappointment and self-doubt. The speaker shares personal experiences, noting how the emotional weight of failure can be hard to navigate, particularly for those in leadership roles. Recognizing that failure is a common concern allows leaders to realize they are not alone in these feelings, prompting a necessary conversation around embracing rather than avoiding failure. This shift in perspective can catalyze personal and organizational growth, as leaders learn to glean lessons from their missteps.
Learning from Experiences
David Ashcraft shares a personal story about an initiative that ultimately failed to attract attendees, yet provided valuable insights and learning opportunities. He emphasizes how failure can look different depending on perspective, arguing that even a lack of participation can inform future decisions and shift focus. This narrative showcases the importance of resilience and adaptability in leadership, illustrating how stepping away from traditional expectations can lead to more fulfilling and meaningful experiences. By framing these experiences positively, leaders can foster an environment where learning from failure is encouraged.
Building a High Feedback Culture
The conversation highlights the necessity of creating a high feedback culture within organizations to address failures constructively. By routinely giving and receiving feedback, team members learn to discuss failures openly without fear of punitive consequences, fostering an environment of growth. David stresses that calculated risks and thoughtful planning can mitigate the harsh impacts of potential failures, promoting innovative attempts without jeopardizing the entire organization. This approach encourages leaders to test ideas on a smaller scale, allowing for experimentation while minimizing risks.
For leaders, there’s no avoiding failure; it just comes with the territory. However, how leaders respond when things don’t go as planned—how they lead through failure—is absolutely critical. This month, we are going to focus on ways that leaders can lead through failure and turn potential disappointment into powerful lessons for growth and renewal. In this episode, GLN President and CEO, David Ashcraft, shares stories of times when things did not go as planned, and how he has learned to “fail well” over time.
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