I freakin fail all the time; I mean bounce forward! Language is very important! Take a moment and reflect on the words in this headline. Then, identify where your mindset is in relation to what you have done, or, are experiencing in business right now. Some of us may have experienced failure and can’t move past this, while others may have learnt from the failure and taken ourselves onto success. There is no wrong or right answer here, just an opportunity to learn. Though my experience, I have noticed how business owners manage their perception of failure even to the point of language they use every day. For example, using the term bouncing forward rather than bouncing back from failure! It’s the small changes that aggregate to bigger outcomes “Success Breeds Success”
Leonardo Da Vinci, a genius who crossed many disciplines once quoted, “Obstacles do not bend me – every obstacle is destroyed by rigour”
The Journey of an Entrepreneur is “Rocky and Unpredictable”
What steps are you taking to overcoming setbacks in business and learn from failure, as leaders deal with setbacks? Instead of being discouraged, here is what you can do to regain confidence to keep going in an article “These 4 Steps Can Help You Overcome Any Setback in Your Business.” by CEO Debra Maldonado. The article indicates there no straight shot to success and the journey of an entrepreneur is rocky and unpredictable. When you feel deflated over a blow to your plans, do these four things to get your mind focused and regain momentum:
- Take full responsibility
- Find the gold
- Reset your vision
- Celebrate small wins
Failure is a necessary part of Business Success
Billionaire Richard Branson owns so many businesses he’s said that he has a hard time keeping track of them all. Worth more than $5 billion, he’s been knighted by the British government for his services to entrepreneurship and has a well-earned reputation for success. In a July 2017 article “What Richard Branson Learned from His 7 Biggest Failures,” it is shown that any one of Branson’s failures could have derailed his entire career if he’d allowed it to, but the mark of a true entrepreneur is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. A true adventurer in both business and life, Branson will continue pushing his limits — and we can all stand to learn a bit from his bravado.
Don’t Be Afraid To Fail
My blog “12 Rules of Courage,” indicates that we lead today in a world where there is much uncertainty, no reliable blueprint and unrecognisable landscape. Within this landscape, what we need more now than ever before in our leaders is courage and not being afraid to fail. My 12 Rules of Courage will support you on your journey to success as a resilient leader:
- Speak The Truth, No Matter How Difficult It May Be
- Know Your Values – And Stick To Them
- Be Unapologetically You
- Never Let Fear Stop You From Achieving Your Goals
- Be Brave Enough To Stop And Listen
- Never Accept Defeat
- Do What Scares You
- Learn To Silence Your Inner Critic
- Love Yourself Because Of Your Flaws, Not In Spite Of Them
- Be the Bigger Person in All Interactions
- Be Open to New Ideas, Thoughts and Experiences
- Don’t Be Afraid To Fail
Leadership isn’t easy and sometimes we need help. I am always here.
Your business needs to be built around resilient operations! Get in touch today to learn more about how to build leadership skills and how leaders deal with setbacks and, set yourself up for success!
Stay Kind. Stay Courageous.
Sonia x
About The Author Sonia McDonald And LeadershipHQ
Sonia McDonald is the CEO and founder of LeadershipHQ and McDonald Inc. Sonia is a in demand keynote speaker, leadership coach and advisor, author and facilitator.
She believes we should lead with kindness and courage, from the heart, doing rather than telling and is known for her mantra ‘just lead’. She leads by example in all these areas and through her one on one practical coaching, leadership training for teams and organisations encourages others to do the same. Sonia has helped hundreds of people on their leadership journey to become the best version of themselves and in turn, inspire and bring out the best in others. Also she and her team have worked and partnered with a number of businesses and companies for over a decade build great leadership teams and cultures.
For more than 25 years, Sonia has been on the front lines of Human Resources, Leadership and People and Culture. She has held leadership positions worldwide and through experience, research and study come to realise what it takes to be a truly great leader.
Sonia has an ability to speak bravely and authentically about her own development as a leader, personal and career challenges in a way which resonates with her audience. She is recognised as a LinkedIn influencer and has become an in-demand keynote speaker, starts important conversations.
She is an award-winning published author of Leadership Attitude and Just Rock It! and writes regularly for publications such as The Australian, HRD Magazine, Smart Healthy Women and Women’s Business Media. Sonia has become recognised for her commentary around the topic of leadership, championing the up and coming leaders of tomorrow, advocating for women in business as well as building leaders in small business.
Sonia will give you peace of mind when booking a speaker. She is a proven world-class professional speaker with the skills to “rock an audience”. Her energy, empathy, kindness, sensitivity, and humour will enhance any event she appears.
Phone 1300 719 665
About LeadershipHQ
Outstanding Leadership Starts With You.
The key to success today is Great Leadership. Your leaders lead your culture and it’s the culture which drives your strategy.
We partner with organisations and businesses to grow great, kind and courageous leaders through bespoke leadership development programs and individual and group coaching – face-to-face and online.
We also celebrate and showcase great leadership through our Outstanding Leadership Awards and the Just Lead Podcast.
If you are a great leader or organisation, who wants to be even greater, we’d love to work with you.
Great Leadership begins with us.
