Failure...aka The Hidden Side of Success
In a society focused on success through out every aspect of your life, from your job ranking, your performance and projects, the books you read…every aspects of your life is expected to be a sign of success…and if not…a failure.
Society defines you according to preset parameters classifying you in the black or white zone, while no grey zone is permitted.
But while reflecting on your path of life, ask yourself: what is failure and according to whom? How specifically can you define it? And what if failure truly meant success?
1. Failure as an Experience
First of all, seeing it as an experience changes your perspective about failure. It is the first step towards your growth and future success. Indeed, throughout my clients and discussions with other colleagues and professionals, I realized the burden of the stigma that the word failure means. When I come to question them about their productive experiences, failure was also part of it. And as they gained self-awareness of what they learnt from those experiences, they realized their strengths and weaknesses, and areas for self-improvement. Failure is indeed an experience, a mindset, and you can turn it into a growth mindset.
2. Understanding Failure
You need to understand that failure is part of a process for self-improvement of your hard and soft skills. In this perspective, it is essential to look at the framework in which it took place:
“Was I restrained by the fear of failure?”
“Was it a calculated risk?”
“Did I invest my best efforts?”
“Were there any external factors I could not control or anticipate?”
3. The Good Failure:
The good ones teach you something new and allow you to self develop your hard and soft skills. To find out ask yourself:
“What elements of this experience can I use to improve my work and self develop?”
“What elements of this experience can I use to benefit myself and others?”
4. The Bad Failure:
You can turn this experience into a bad failure depending on what you do about it. The choice is yours. The key is to be conscious, and objective about the experience and the competences used.
If it turns you are unaware of the opportunity and stand still on your position, you will not only turn the experience into a failure, but also remain unconscious about your lack of competence.
Shermeen Zeidan, Certified Master Coach
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, International Coaching Solutions provides 1 on1 coaching and workshops.
For further advise, feel free to contact me and visit my website. www.internationalcoachingsolutions.com info@internationalcoachingsolutions.com
