Fail Forward | Youry Royke P.T. | LeadingSelf Expect The Best

Summary

The video script emphasizes the concept of 'Fail Forward' as a key to leadership. It suggests that while optimism is crucial in envisioning success, it doesn't guarantee against failure. Leaders understand and embrace the possibility of failure, viewing it as a stepping stone for growth rather than a setback. The script introduces 'resilience' as the capacity to keep pursuing dreams despite repeated failures. It highlights Steve Jobs as an example of someone who repeatedly failed yet succeeded by learning from his mistakes. The script concludes with three tips: recognizing failure without embarrassment, seeking lessons from failure, and being open to feedback for personal and organizational growth.

Takeaways

• 🚀 **Embrace Failure**: Leaders understand that failure is a part of the journey and they choose to embrace it.
• 🌟 **Optimism and Reality**: While optimism is important, it doesn't guarantee success; leaders also prepare for potential failure.
• 💪 **Resilience Overcomes**: Resilience is not about never failing, but about continuing to pursue goals despite setbacks.
• 🌱 **Learn and Grow**: True leaders learn from their failures, using them as stepping stones to grow stronger.
• 📈 **Fail Forward**: The concept of 'failing forward' means using mistakes to progress and improve.
• 👤 **Steve Jobs Example**: Steve Jobs, despite his many failures, is an example of someone who embraced failure and used it to innovate.
• 🔍 **Recognize Failure**: Be willing to acknowledge when you've failed; it's the first step towards learning and moving forward.
• 📚 **Seek Lessons**: When facing failure, look for the lessons it offers rather than making excuses or blaming others.
• 🗣️ **Value Feedback**: Be open to feedback from others, as it can provide valuable insights that you might not see yourself.
• 🛤️ **Adapt and Redirect**: When faced with obstacles, like a steep ravine in the script, it's important to change course rather than forcing a failed path.

Q & A

What is the concept of 'Fail Forward' as discussed in the script?

Fail Forward is the idea of embracing the possibility of failure as a part of the journey towards success. It involves acknowledging failure, learning from it, and using it as a stepping stone to move forward and improve.

Why is it important for leaders to recognize the probability of failure?

Recognizing the probability of failure allows leaders to be prepared for setbacks and to develop strategies to overcome them. It promotes a realistic approach to goal-setting and fosters resilience in the face of challenges.

What does the term 'resilience' mean in the context of leadership?

In the context of leadership, resilience refers to the ability to bounce back from failures, to continue pursuing goals despite setbacks, and to learn and grow from the experience of failure.

How does Steve Jobs exemplify the concept of Fail Forward?

Steve Jobs exemplifies Fail Forward by facing multiple failures, including being fired from Apple, the company he co-founded. Despite these setbacks, he continued to innovate and introduced revolutionary products like the iMac, iPhone, and iPad.

What advice does Steve Jobs give regarding mistakes made during the innovation process?

Steve Jobs advises that when mistakes are made during the innovation process, it's best to admit them quickly and then focus on improving other innovations.

What are the three tips for Fail Forward mentioned in the script?

The three tips for Fail Forward are: 1) Be willing to recognize failure without embarrassment, 2) Look for lessons in failure to evaluate and move forward, and 3) Open yourself up to feedback from others.

Why is it important not to dwell on failure according to the script?

Dwelling on failure can prevent progress and hinder learning. The script emphasizes the importance of recognizing failure, learning from it, and then moving on to find new paths to success.

How can leaders learn from failure as suggested by the script?

Leaders can learn from failure by analyzing what went wrong, extracting lessons from the experience, and using this knowledge to make better decisions and improve their strategies for the future.

What is the significance of feedback in the process of Fail Forward?

Feedback is significant in the process of Fail Forward because it provides an external perspective on one's actions and decisions. It helps leaders to identify blind spots and areas for improvement that they might not be aware of.

How does the script differentiate between optimism and the acceptance of failure?

The script differentiates between optimism and the acceptance of failure by stating that while optimism is essential for envisioning success, it does not guarantee that everything will go as planned. Accepting failure means acknowledging the possibility of setbacks and using them as opportunities for growth and learning.

What is the role of failure in the personal growth of a leader according to the script?

According to the script, failure plays a crucial role in the personal growth of a leader by providing lessons that strengthen their resolve, improve their strategies, and ultimately lead to better performance and resilience.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Embrace Failure to Succeed: The Concept of Fail Forward

The first paragraph introduces the concept of 'Fail Forward', contrasting it with the more familiar 'Pay Forward'. It acknowledges the importance of optimism and envisioning success but emphasizes that this alone does not guarantee success. The narrative highlights the inevitability of failure and the necessity for leaders to anticipate and accept it. The idea of 'resilience' is introduced as the capacity to continue pursuing goals despite setbacks. The example of Steve Jobs is used to illustrate how embracing failure and learning from it can lead to innovation and growth. Three tips are provided: recognizing failure without shame, seeking lessons from failure, and being open to feedback to improve and move forward.

05:07

🔍 Learning from Failure: The Power of Feedback

The second paragraph builds on the theme of learning from failure by emphasizing the importance of feedback. It suggests that understanding and evaluating the lessons from failure are crucial for progress. The paragraph also stresses the value of being open to feedback from others, as they can provide perspectives that we might not see ourselves. This openness to feedback is portrayed as a key component of personal and organizational growth.

Keywords

💡Fail Forward

Fail Forward is a concept that encourages embracing failure as a stepping stone towards success. It suggests that instead of avoiding failure, one should anticipate it, learn from it, and use the experience to move forward more effectively. In the video, this concept is central to the theme of resilience and growth through adversity. Steve Jobs is cited as an example of someone who failed multiple times but used those failures to innovate and succeed.

💡Optimism

Optimism is the belief that good things will happen or that situations will turn out well. The video suggests that while optimism is important for envisioning success, it is not a guarantee against failure. Optimism is portrayed as a positive mindset that should be balanced with the realistic understanding of the potential for setbacks.

💡Resilience

Resilience refers to the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and to thrive in the face of adversity. In the context of the video, resilience is highlighted as the ability to continue pursuing one's goals despite experiencing failures. It is what allows leaders to learn from their mistakes and grow stronger, as exemplified by Steve Jobs' ability to bounce back from being fired from his own company.

💡Leadership

Leadership is the act of leading a group of people or an organization. The video emphasizes that true leaders are those who not only envision success but also acknowledge the possibility of failure. They demonstrate resilience by learning from failures and using those lessons to improve and move forward, which is a key aspect of the Fail Forward philosophy.

💡Innovation

Innovation is the process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for which customers will pay. The video mentions that innovation often involves risk and the potential for failure, as seen with Steve Jobs' willingness to admit mistakes during the process. Innovation is portrayed as a journey that can include failure but ultimately leads to progress.

💡Mistakes

Mistakes are errors in action, procedure, or judgment. The video script acknowledges that mistakes are an inevitable part of the process, especially when innovating. It stresses the importance of recognizing and learning from these mistakes, rather than denying or ignoring them, which aligns with the Fail Forward approach.

💡Feedback

Feedback is the process of returning information about the results of a process or activity. In the video, feedback is presented as a valuable resource for personal and organizational growth. It suggests that being open to feedback from others can provide insights that may not be apparent to oneself, which is crucial for learning from failures.

💡Risks

Risks are potential dangers or hazards that could negatively impact the outcome of an action or decision. The video discusses the inevitability of risks when pursuing dreams and the importance of accepting these risks as part of the journey. Embracing risks is a part of the Fail Forward mindset, where one is willing to face potential failure in the pursuit of success.

💡Dreams

Dreams in this context refer to aspirations or ambitions. The video encourages chasing dreams despite the possibility of failure. It suggests that the pursuit of dreams is a journey that may be filled with setbacks, but it is through resilience and learning from failures that one can continue to move towards these aspirations.

💡Growth

Growth in the video refers to personal or professional development that comes from learning and adapting. It is portrayed as a result of facing and learning from failure. Growth is an essential part of the Fail Forward concept, as it implies that one can become stronger and more capable through the experience of failure.

💡Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs is used as a case study in the video to illustrate the concept of Fail Forward. He is known for his innovative products like the iMac, iPhone, and iPad. Despite his successes, Jobs experienced significant failures, including being fired from Apple. His story exemplifies the video's theme of using failure as a catalyst for innovation and personal growth.

Highlights

Introduction to the concept of 'Fail Forward' as a practice for leaders.

The importance of acknowledging the possibility of failure despite being optimistic.

Leadership involves embracing both the possibilities of success and the risks of failure.

Definition of resilience as the ability to continue pursuing goals despite setbacks.

The necessity of learning from failure to grow stronger.

Leaders don't dwell in failure but learn and grow from it.

Steve Jobs as an example of a leader who embraced failure and continued to innovate.

Jobs' philosophy on admitting mistakes quickly to improve further innovations.

The idea that failure can be used to gain steps forward in the innovation process.

The first tip for 'Fail Forward': Be willing to recognize failure without embarrassment.

The second tip: Look for lessons in failure to move forward.

The third tip: Open yourself up to feedback from others.

The importance of feedback in recognizing blind spots in leadership.

The concept of resilience as not just about not falling, but about getting up after falling.

The ability to accept risks and continue chasing dreams despite repeated failures.

The necessity of evaluating and learning from failure to move forward effectively.

The metaphor of a steep ravine in hiking to illustrate the need to change paths after recognizing failure.

Transcripts

Okay, we continue on to the second practice, Fail Forward.

We’ve heard of the term ‘pay forward’, but this time, its Fail Forward.

There’s the word ‘fail’ in it.

Regarding to Expect the Best, its true we should be optimistic.

Because by being optimistic we can imagine success by success.

The problem is, can we be successful just by imagining success?

No! In certain situations, even if we are optimistic,

It is not a sign that everything will go according to our plan.

There are situations where we will fail even if we are being optimistic.

But a leader, the best leaders, have the tendency to realize the probability of failure.

They face it. They know that ‘failure’ is a thing.

They choose to embrace the possibilities of success, but also accept the risks of failures.

Because we will certainly face failure. Its just how we are going to try again.

Now regarding the matter, there is a word that I want to share with you, it is called, ‘resilience’.

Resilience does not mean we never fall, lose, or maybe cry over mistakes and failure.

Resilience is the ability to keep on trying to do.

Chasing dreams, expanding capacity,

The ability to accept all risks and keep on trying to chase your dreams..

..even if you face failures again and again and again.

So, in a true leadership, leaders do not live or dwell in failure.

But they learn from failure, they grow in failure,

They took the lessons from failure to make themselves stronger, and they move forward in a better state than ever.

One example is a person you might know. He even got his own movie. His name is Steve Jobs.

He is the person who introduced iMac, iPhone, iPad, and all other ‘i’s, to us.

He is a remarkable man. But are we all aware that He failed over and over?

Once, he even got fired from the company he himself established.

But he says this:

Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes.

It is best to admit them quickly and get on with improving your other innovations

So he realize there are times during innovation process we make mistakes.

But, the important thing is to Fail Forward.

When we use our fall to gain several steps forward.

There are three tips regarding fail forward.

First, Be willing to recognize failure.

Our willingness to recognize the failure we are facing.

But don’t dwell in our failure. For example, when we hike a mountain.

When we make our own path to reach the summit, we find ourselves in front of a steep ravine

How do we get through a deep ravine?

Admit that we fail to make the path

We need to find a nother track, maybe it’s much further to reach the summit,

instead of forcing our way in the ravine to reach the top. The risk is bigger.

Its better for us to willingly admit, ‘this is failure’. We fail to make the path because there’s a ravine ahead.

So the First one is willing to recognize failure. Never feel embarrassed when you fail.

Second, look for lessons.

Often times, when we face failure we look for a scapegoat to justify our failure.

We need to have a mentality that says ‘its true I fail, what lesson do I learn from this failure?

With this lesson, what do I need to evaluate so that I can move forward?’

Third, open yourself up to feedback.

There are people around us who know what we do not know.

Like the hair whorls in the back of our head, we don’t know how it looks like. other people know.

Most of the time when we lead ourselves or an organization,

we tend to not realize that we need feedback from other people.

That’s why we need to be open to the feedbacks around us.