As a coach I have many clients coming to me because they want to achieve something. We get clear on what it is that they want to achieve, what it will mean when they do and how they will know that they’ve achieved it.
Then we look at what might get in the way, and one of the key things that we find is a fear of getting it wrong. A fear of making a mistake. What others will think about it. What the consequences of getting it wrong will be.
And this is often the key blocker and the first thing we need to tackle.
Now everyone is different and unique which means that these conversations are never the same. However one mindset change that has really helped many of my clients, is to cultivate a belief that no matter what goes wrong, they can:
- Fix it, or
- Know someone who can
Failing or getting this wrong is inevitable, especially if you are innovating in any way, which is critical for long term success.
You may have heard of the term “fail fast”. This is the idea that the quicker you fail and learn from it, the sooner you will get to the right idea or conclusion. This mindset is and essential part of the growth mindset and to learn more about growth mindset, go take a look at Carol Dweck’s work.
I like to look at it like this:
It’s like you have a rucksack on your back, with all the tools you need to get you out of any hole. And if you fall in a hole that you don’t know how to get out of, you know someone you can call (there’s a phone in your rucksack too!) who does know how to fix this.
Really knowing that this is possible for you, will give you the confidence you need to fail fast and learn even faster.
Fixing things that go wrong gives you the opportunity to show what you’re really made of. As a leader, showing up as someone who fails fast, learns and encourages others to do the same, will not only draw great people to you, but will also ensure that your teams are super successful.
So go ahead and encourage some mistakes!
Speak soon
Sx
