#222: Leaders should fail early

How do you react to failure? Do you view it as the end of something or as the beginning of a new phase?

Do you accept failure as something that has shrunk you in some way, possibly because it has diminished your credibility and stature? Or do you welcome failure because it expands you with new knowledge and experience?

If you answered yes to the second question in each case, then consider yourself a leader. Or at least leadership material.

Warren Bennis, a long-standing authority on leadership, believes that the worst problem a leader can face is early success. Why? Because then there is no opportunity to learn from adversity and problems.

To become a good leader, you must first develop as an individual. And that takes a couple of failures.

It’s best to fail often and fail early. But even if you did not, don’t despair. You’re never too old to fail... or to lead.


I’m JamesMcIntosh@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2008 James Henry McIntosh

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