The column "Leadership Whiteboard" provides a short visual leadership coaching moment. It introduces and explains a new sketch in each issue, provides leadership coaching for further development, and shares a leadership quote and recommended book.

Leadership and Failure

No leader chooses failure, but studies have shown failures serve as incubators of leadership. John Kotter, a leadership scholar, suggested that behind every great leader is an early significant failure in his or her career. Leaders view failure as experiential learning. They own it, persist through it, and develop from it. Thomas Edison, the famous inventor who failed miserably before plugging into success, said, “I have found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

You can easily read about leaders who failed early and overcame mistakes: Abraham Lincoln, Walt Disney, James Dyson, Steve Jobs, Fred Smith, Mark Cuban, Milton Hershey, and Henry Ford. Or consider Theodor Seuss Geisel, AKA Dr. Seuss. He was turned down 27 times by numerous publishers before his beloved children’s books went on to sell more than 600 million copies. Leaders do not fear failing as much as never trying.

Just as unchecked fear can paralyze leaders, it also impairs the future of organizations. The emotion of fear can blind one with anticipated consequences. Risk aversion hinders leaders of organizations by defaulting to “the safe call” and preventing growth. Imagine parenting from only safe calls. The child would skip immunizations, never attend school, and certainly not be allowed to ride roller coasters. No one could imagine “living in a bubble” as a child, but some leaders keep their organizations in a safe bubble—one that never fully allows development. Organizations that grow experience failures along the way. Remember Apple’s Newton?

I have experienced my share of failure, and I am not suggesting any leader should foolishly or intentionally charge toward failure. Leaders plan, envision, and typically see further down the road than those around them. But, leaders earn the respect of followers by managing risk wisely, careful planning, and strategic stopgaps. Make attempts, determine not to stop trying, and learn from missteps.

Failure is not a reason to reject someone when it can be the tuition to a wiser future.

About the Columnist: Ron Hunter Jr., Ph.D., is CEO of Randall House Publications.