“I have not failed 10,000 times - I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work” - Thomas Edison
No one enjoys failing. That sinking feeling in your stomach when something doesn’t go your way, also known as disappointment. You might be surprised to learn that failure early in your career can be an indicator of success in the future. Check out the figures here.
One of the questions I get asked most often as a coach is “How do I bounce back from a career setback or failure?” It could be getting fired, not getting a job you really want, struggling with a role that you felt was made for you, experiencing burnout, struggling with a job you hate, etc etc.
My first tip is always to change how you feel about failing. I remember applying for a promotion that felt like it was made for me about ten years ago. It was with a brand new team where I would have the chance to shape the future of a whole department. Every time I got one step closer to the final interview my hopes grew. Until the flat feeling of a phone call that let me know it was a no. I felt like a failure, and it probably sat with me much longer than it should have done. And it felt even worse to let my colleagues know that I would be staying put for the time being.
The sense of wanting to keep quiet when we face adversity in our careers is the problem. By focusing only on the positives, I’ve presented an incredibly skewed view of my career journey instead of being honest about when I’ve struggled. And that’s not helpful for you let alone others who might look to you for advice. In this blog, I want to discuss the concept of “failing forward” or “failing to success” as a means of using professional failures to help you grow. I am going to show you how to make the most of mistakes and see them as a chance to learn and progress. Hopefully, the next time you meet failure you’ll be better equipped and stronger and can learn more from it.
Why failing is actually good for you
Failing gives us vital information
Without information, we can’t improve our critical thinking, our decision-making, or our planning. Failing shows us what doesn’t work. It provides insight into what features, processes, and policies don't work. And it’s information we can use to make improvements. Look at the quote I posted at the top of this article by Thomas Edison - “I have not failed 10,000 times - I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work”. Every time Edison had a failed attempt he used the information in the next experiment until eventually, he perfected the process. Can you imagine if he’d just kept going without paying attention to the information each of those failed attempts was giving him? Or what if after 9,999 attempts he simply gave up? We might all be sitting in darkness. Edison used his failures as important, usable information and we can too.
Failing demonstrates courage
It shows that you are not afraid to try something new. Failing proves that you have the experience to provide new ideas, perspectives and solve novel problems. Failing provides invaluable experience. You have gained knowledge from a past failure and can use this knowledge to make different decisions in the future.
Failing makes you innovative
Rebounding from failure can give you confidence and minimise future fear. Reluctance to try new things, perfectionism, procrastination and lack of follow-through can all be indicators that you fear failure. When you know what failure looks like and feels like, and more importantly that you can survive it, you’re less afraid of it. This means you’re more likely to be bold, push yourself out of your comfort zone and put yourself forward for bigger and better opportunities.
How to handle failure positively
Feel the feelings
This might sound corny but a healthy and productive way to process life’s failures is to work your way through the emotions. This doesn’t mean plastering a smile on your face and pretending that everything is okay. It's normal to feel disappointed. I often wonder why we try so hard to protect our children from disappointment. It does nothing to prepare them for life. If anything, it trains them to believe that they should never feel disappointed or that feeling disappointed is wrong. Feel what you need to. Vent if you need to. But don't let it take over your every waking thought. And don’t stay in that place for too long. Think about what comes next. The one thing you do have control over is what you do next.
Don't take failure personally
Failure is a completely natural and predictable part of living. It's the cost of living. See failure as inevitable at some point in your career. And view it as an opportunity to learn rather than a reflection of your ability or worth. Your failures don’t speak to your character, how you handle them does.
Identify the cause
A failure is only a waste of time, energy, and resources if you didn’t learn anything from it. Learn the lessons, apply your new knowledge and modify what you do next time to reflect what you now know.
Be honest with yourself and others
There is no shame in failure. Take responsibility for your failures and don't blame others or make excuses.
Success is not the opposite of failure, it's the next step
Look at how you measure success. Success should include two things - work that aligns with your values and work that is recognised and rewarded by your organisation. If your current organisation or role doesn’t meet these requirements it's going to be hard to feel successful however much time, effort, or learning you invest in yourself or your job.
If you need to borrow some confidence, lean on people who believe in you. Spend time at work nurturing relationships with colleagues who lift you up and appreciate your contribution.
If you’re not feeling fulfilled in your current position or are thinking that maybe it might be time for a change take a look at our free career resources to help you get started here
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