Embracing Your Future Leadership Failures

And learning to overcome them.

July 31, 2023
If you never know failure, you'll never know success

Leadership involves risk, making hard decisions and navigating uncertainty. If you lead, you will experience failure. It's going to happen. How you respond will have a significant impact on you and your team.

In 2009, I took a new leadership role. Two teams were being combined, and I was asked to lead the newly formed team. The twist though was that the two leaders of each of the previous teams were still on the team. They were each older and more experienced than me. And here I was, as a young leader coming in to guide the team into a much larger scope than the two teams previously had combined.

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My Two Fears

I was excited about what was possible, but I felt anxious about something. I spent time reflecting and trying to name what I was feeling. I identified two fears:

  1. I would break what I had been given. I inherited a lot from these two teams, and I didn't want it to fall apart under my leadership, especially with the two other leaders watching.
  2. My team would mutiny. I knew I could do the job but didn't feel qualified. We lived in Asia, and most of the people on my team had more experience and better language skills. I was afraid they would not see me as qualified and question why I was leading.

With this clarity, I took a long walk to pray about these failures. As I was processing what I was feeling, I felt like God said, "If both of the failures are fully realized, will I still be enough for you?" I was hoping for assurance that these wouldn't happen, that I would be safe from my fears. Instead, I was asked if I thought I would be safe amidst my fears realized.

I knew that even if my fears were realized, God would be enough. But I was struggling to have confidence and embrace this reality. I allowed my imagination to wander into what it might look like if those fears were realized. It wasn't fun. However, as I continued walking, imagining these failed outcomes, I could say, "God, I don't want this to happen, but if it does, I believe you will be enough."

Hope that transcends circumstance frees you from living under a fear of failure.  

At the end of that walk, I felt tired yet hopeful.

A practice of envisioning failure

Fear of failure can paralyze some, trapping them in decision paralysis amidst uncertainty. For others, it can drive them to control for self-protection.

Take some time to reflect, and I asked, "As a leader, what am I afraid of?" Consider what fears lurk in the back of your mind. Write them down.

Just naming your fears, it a significant first step to disarming them. But I want to take it a step further.

Consider if your fears were fully realized in an all-out catastrophe kind of way. In a sense, answer the question, "What's the worst that could happen?" This exercise may not be fun, but it's necessary. Now ask the question, "If I fail, where will I find hope?" Hope that transcends circumstance frees you from living under a fear of failure.

What if I do fail?

That next year leading the new team went well. We built upon what was already established. I empowered the previous two leaders to take significant ownership, honoring their abilities and experience.

But in the coming years, I would actually experience each of those fear realized in one way or another. It was painful. There's no way around it. I bore responsibility for much of it while, at the same time, much of it was out of my control.

If your lead, you will at times experience failure. It's going to happen. How you respond will have a significant impact on you and your team.

It wasn't easy, but strength and resolve came from already envisioning these fears realized. It's as if I had the benefit of already experiencing them in the past. I was confident God would be enough for me amid the difficulties, and I was not afraid.

The book "Leading with a Limp" was very formative for me this season. How I responded to failures had and powerful impact on my team. They had a front-row seat to the show. I had a choice. I could hide my weakness unsuccessfully or be transparent and lead through my weakness.

You want your life to have meaning and impact.

What if your everyday work and life not only felt natural and intuitive but also aligned with your priorities and positively impacted those around you?

See the opportunities

As a leader, it's tempting to try to appear strong and act like we have all the answers. It's not true, and everyone can see through it. You can your team are better together. Having a more experienced team is a blessing if you have the humility to embrace it. Humility, however, doesn't often come without humiliation. While embracing your failures can be scary and painful, it can also chart a course to growth and healthy leadership.

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Action Plan

Thinking about potential failures can be a challenge to do in a healthy way. But when you face the fear of those failures and name them, you can disarm them.

Taking time to do regular personal reviews as a leader is another practice that will give you insight into what you are thinking and believing. This clarity can help you grow as a servant leader.

Frequently Asked Questions

Team Leadership

What is team leadership?

Team leadership is a management approach focused on leading and guiding a group of individuals working together towards a common goal. A team leader is responsible for providing direction, support, and guidance to the team members, while fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Team leadership involves setting clear goals and expectations for the team, communicating effectively, and building trust and relationships with team members. It also involves empowering team members to take ownership of their work and contribute their unique skills and perspectives to the team's success.

Some key characteristics of effective team leadership include:

  1. Communication: Team leaders communicate clearly and effectively with their team members, keeping them informed about goals, expectations, and progress.
  2. Vision and strategy: Effective team leaders have a clear vision for what they want to achieve and a strategy for how to get there, while also being flexible and adaptable when necessary.
  3. Empowerment: Good team leaders empower their team members to make decisions and take ownership of their work, while also providing support and guidance as needed.
  4. Trust-building: Team leaders build trust and strong relationships with their team members, creating a positive and productive work environment.
  5. Results-oriented: Finally, effective team leaders are results-oriented, focusing on achieving goals and driving performance while also valuing the well-being and development of their team members.

Overall, team leadership is a collaborative and empowering approach to management that values communication, trust-building, and results-driven performance.

Learn more about leadership.

What are the different styles of team leadership?

There are several different styles of team leadership, including:

  1. Democratic leadership: In this style, the leader encourages open communication and participation from all team members in decision-making processes.
  2. Autocratic leadership: This style involves the leader making decisions and taking control over the team's direction, often with little input from team members.
  3. Transformational leadership: This style focuses on inspiring and motivating team members to achieve their full potential, often by setting a clear vision and communicating goals effectively.
  4. Servant leadership: A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their team members, focusing on serving and empowering them to achieve their goals.
  5. Laissez-faire leadership: In this style, the leader provides minimal guidance or direction, allowing team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions independently.
  6. Transactional leadership: This style involves setting clear goals and expectations for team members and providing rewards or discipline based on performance.
  7. Situational leadership: This approach involves adapting one's leadership style to fit the specific situation or needs of the team at any given time.

Overall, each style of team leadership has its own strengths and weaknesses, and effective leaders may use a combination of different styles depending on the situation and the needs of their team.

Learn more about leadership.

What are the different skills required for team leadership?

There are several key skills required for effective team leadership, including:

  1. Clear: Team leaders must be to communicate effectively with their team members, setting clear expectations and goals, providing feedback, and keeping everyone informed about progress and changes.
  2. Active listening: Leaders need to be able to listen actively to their team members, hear their concerns, ideas, and suggestions, and work collaboratively to find solutions.
  3. Empathy: Good team leaders value empathy, recognizing and understanding the perspectives of their team members, and working to build trust and strong relationships
  4. Decision-making: Leaders must be able to make informed decisions based on available information and input from team members, while also being decisive when necessary.
  5. Problem-solving: Effective team leaders must be able to identify and solve problems that arise within the team, working collaboratively to find creative and effective solutions.
  6. Motivation and empowerment: Leaders must be able to motivate and empower their team members to take ownership of their work, overcome challenges, and achieve their full potential.
  7. Delegation and management: Team leaders must be able to delegate tasks effectively, manage resources and timelines, and oversee the work of the team to ensure quality and efficiency.

Overall, effective team leadership requires a combination of interpersonal, decision-making, and management skills, as well as the ability to inspire and empower team members to work collaboratively towards shared goals.

Learn more about leadership.

What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.

A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.

Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:

  1. Empathy: Servant leaders value empathy, placing themselves in the shoes of their followers to better understand their needs and motivations.
  2. Listening: They are active listeners, taking the time to listen to their followers' concerns, feedback, and ideas.
  3. Commitment to development: Servant leaders prioritize the growth and development of their followers, providing opportunities for learning and development.
  4. Humility: They recognize their own limitations and seek input from others to make informed decisions.
  5. Stewardship: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, working to create a positive impact for all stakeholders.

Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

Servant Leadership

What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.

A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.

Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:

  1. Empathy: Servant leaders value empathy, placing themselves in the shoes of their followers to better understand their needs and motivations.
  2. Listening: They are active listeners, taking the time to listen to their followers' concerns, feedback, and ideas.
  3. Commitment to development: Servant leaders prioritize the growth and development of their followers, providing opportunities for learning and development.
  4. Humility: They recognize their own limitations and seek input from others to make informed decisions.
  5. Stewardship: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, working to create a positive impact for all stakeholders.

Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

How can servant leadership be beneficial in the workplace?

Servant leadership can be beneficial in the workplace in a number of ways, including:

  1. Improved employee engagement and job satisfaction: When employees feel supported, valued, and empowered by their leaders, they tend to be more engaged and satisfied with their work.
  2. Increased collaboration and teamwork: Servant leaders prioritize communication, collaboration, and trust-building, which can lead to stronger relationships and more effective teamwork.
  3. Higher levels of productivity and innovation: When leaders empower their team members to take ownership of their work and contribute their ideas, it can lead to higher levels of productivity and innovation.
  4. Reduced turnover and absenteeism: Employees who feel supported and valued are less likely to leave their jobs or call in sick, leading to reduced turnover and absenteeism rates.
  5. Improved organizational culture: Servant leadership can create a positive organizational culture that values growth, development, and well-being for all stakeholders, which can lead to improved morale and outcomes.

Overall, servant leadership can lead to a more positive, productive, and fulfilling workplace environment, benefiting both employees and the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

How does servant leadership differ from other leadership styles?

Servant leadership differs from many other leadership styles in several key ways:

  1. Focus on serving others: Servant leaders prioritize the needs and well-being of their followers over their own interests, while many other leadership styles focus more on achieving organizational goals.
  2. Empathy and listening skills: Servant leaders value empathy and active listening skills to better understand the needs and perspectives of their followers, while some other leadership styles may be more focused on asserting authority or making decisions without input from others.
  3. Collaboration and teamwork: Servant leaders prioritize collaboration and teamwork, seeking to empower and develop their followers to achieve their full potential, while other leadership styles may be more focused on competition or individual achievement.
  4. Humility and accountability: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, prioritizing the well-being of all stakeholders and taking responsibility for their decisions, while some other leadership styles may be more focused on personal ambition or avoiding blame.

Overall, servant leadership is characterized by a focus on serving others, prioritizing empathy and collaboration, and taking a humble and accountable approach to leadership. While other leadership styles may be effective in different contexts, servant leadership can be a powerful tool for creating positive change and empowering others to reach their full potential.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

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