Leaders Learn From Failure
Posted by Orrin Woodward on February 16, 2012
What distinguishes the few from the many in leadership? Simply put, leaders learn from failures while most others avoid them. Sadly, when a person avoids failure, he also misses the “teachable moments” needed in order to grow. Chris Brady’s and my #1 Wall Street Journal Best Seller Launching a Leadership Revolution covers the principles of the learning through the Five Levels of Influence.
Surprisingly, the biggest success is typically the one who has been willing to fail the most. For the faster a person can go from principle understood to principle applied, the faster he or she becomes a leader. Indeed, what makes the LIFE community so valuable is the fact that people can learn leadership principles and then apply them within the community for immediate feedback. In other words, the greatest principles of leadership are practically worthless unless a person has a community in which to apply them.
LIFE provides both the leadership principles and a community in which people can practice application. If a person does his best and fails, it isn’t an issue, since everyone is failing and learning continuously. Do you have a community that provides a grace-filled environment in which to apply your leadership principles?
LIFE provides a safe environment to listen, apply, and fail, so a person can ultimately learn how to succeed. What are you waiting for? Aren’t you ready to stop avoiding failures and start learning from them. Here is a video segment describing the process. Sincerely, Orrin Woodward
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMbGpRgn_bg]
11 Responses to “Leaders Learn From Failure”
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Dave Ober Life Team Leadership said
Reblogged this on Dave Ober Life Leadership Team and commented:
Avoiding failure is the reason so many never succeed! Great perspective on what part failing has in your success!
Ken Hendon said
YES! A huge yes is the only response to this post
Frustration is ok. The sooner we learn to deal with “failure,” the more room we have in our lives for the joy of true achievement.
The amazing thing about LIFE is that the process is systematized and simple.
Kevin Hamm said
Orrin,
I love the environment of the LIFE organization where we have the laboratory where we can run our tests, not that we are just groping for answers, but actually applying what we have recently learned. That culture then spills over into the rest of our lives where we can apply the same principles and processes to improve on all levels. I am so excited for the future and that future is being formed right now, every day. Thanks for everything.
Kevin Hamm
Rob Crichlow said
Failure was and is my best guide for improvement. Thanks Orrin for reminding me that it is okay to risk failure for ‘real’ success.
Kori Albrecht said
A big thank you goes out to Mr.Woodward for going through the mine field and paving the way, so we all can succeed on Leadership principles.
Michael James said
The thing about what you are talking about is that many people may think it is just about this business, but let a person follow through they will see the improvements in other aspects of their lives.
Thanks Orrin!
Michael James
Eric Niciporek & Elise Brown said
You will never learn how to Succeed if you dont first learn from your Failures.. How can you expect to Win, if you dont know the pain of defeat ? The only difference between winners and losers is what they do after the defeat has occured.. Do they lay there in the pain and give up, or do they stand up, dust themselves off, and continue to move forward.. Thank you Orrin for creating such an amazing organization that allows a safe environment for failure, not to keep people down, but so that we can LEARN from our mistakes and failures and educate ourselves on the TRUE principles of Success !!
Jason Dames said
Orrin,
Thank you for setting a platform for people to apply their leadership. I have been so blessed that God has allowed me to associate with such a great community. I thank God that he has used you and all of the people who have sacrificed continually.
Kari said
Yes sir,
To learn you need to have experienced failure. If you do not fail than you do not know where you need improvement on. Just like Albert Einstein. The reason he accomplished so much in his lifetime was because he was not afraid to fail. If we follow in the foot steps of great leaders and stay focused we are sure to succeed.
As Bill says Stay Tough!
Thank You
Kari
Corey and Karen McMullin said
Orrin, I was encouraged by Eric Blumdahl to help explain an e-mail Pat Edwards forwaded to you.When Tim Marks shared during mens leadership about you and him looking at possible aircraft, it set my brain in motion both backwards and forward. Let me explain.We live near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, home of the E.A.A.(Experimental Aircraft Association). My mom and dad realized missionary organizations were sending reps to EAA to help raise awareness and support of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ around the world supported by mission aviation. My folks quickly saw a need and worked to meet the feeding and housing needs of these devoted people. These groups included pilots, mechanics,design engineers, tool makers,and missionaries. Many were all of the above. During these times we’ve been able to meet and serve many incredibly neat, devoted and humble people who serve God through these organizations.In this process, we learned that God had given design specs and ideas to engineers and builders for an aircraft specifically designed to land in less than desirable locations.Thus was born the “Kodiak”, made by Quest Air. My understanding is for every x number of aircraft sold commercially, 1 can be donated to a mission organization. When my wife and I joined Team, and started listing out our goals and dreams, supporting mission aviation ended up as the biggest goal we’re running for. So….when I learned you guys were looking to purchase an aircraft, my thoughts went immediately to the Kodiak, and Quesr Air.I obviously don’t know what type of aircraft you’re looking for, or if a connection might be made, but just the chance to increase awareness for mission aviation is all good.We’re looking forward to the time when we can contribute more ourselves. Thanks for your time, Fired Up on the S.W.A.T. team, Corey and Karen McMullin
wildtarg said
A sharp, pointy reminder to those who think life is about looking good and getting ‘right answers’ all the time. I was once such a person. It took me quite some time to understand, even having experienced the process, that failure (incorrect answers, inappropriate responses, and erroneous thinking, to name a few) is part of the learning process. I now understand that more can be learned from honest, best-effort failure than from easy success. The video posts are great. They help add ‘spice’ to such a well-made blog.
Keep going, we’re with you…