Innovation coach Diana Kander: Failure is an option

Yes, you could fail, and it would be embarrassing. People would talk about it. People you know. But let’s be honest, they’re only trying to reassure themselves about the risk-averse choices they’ve made.

Yes, you could fail, and it could get you fired. I’m sure you’ve envisioned carrying your belongings in a cardboard box out the door in a walk of shame.  But don’t stress about it, because they don’t really let you go back to your desk after firing you these days; they usually just ship you your things to make sure you don’t steal that red stapler on your way out.

But can’t you see that playing it safe, blending in, appeasing everyone you work with is the real danger?  It doesn’t give anyone a reason to keep you around when times are tough.  It doesn’t give them the reason they need to promote you and give you more authority, more autonomy.

Yes, you could fail, but if you don’t, you’ll never get better! The world is changing at an ever increasing pace, and those individuals who will own the new economy are those that can continuously find new ways to evolve and provide new value to their boss, to their customers, to each and every one of their relationships.

And you can’t grow and develop without failing.  It’s just science.

Show me someone who’s seldom fallen while ice skating and I’ll show you a bad ice skater! The more you fall, the more opportunities you have to learn!  The more you learn, the better you get and the more value you create.