Recently I wrote a post entitled The 5 Stages Of Failure. It deeply resonated with the readers of this site. This is because leaders do not want to fail. Many want to avoid it at all costs. They want success and advancement of mission and vision. They plan for it. They resource it. They pray for it. As a result, failure can often be a fatal blow for leaders.
However, failure also has the potential to be a leader’s best friend. If you read the accounts of great leaders, you will find all had a series of failures and missed opportunities. But the best leaders learned from their mistakes and got exponentially better.
Today, my pastor Crawford Loritts gave an incredible message on the subject of failure. He brought out some lessons all leaders need to be reminded of. If leveraged properly, the following are 14 Benefits Of Failure as taught by Crawford.
- Failure Relieves Pressure – Crawford said, “Failure is our friend. Stop trying to prove to people you’re perfect.”
- Failure Can Lead To Success – He added, “Examined failure is the backdoor to success…Unexamined failure is a pathway to foolishness.”
- Failure Provides The Gift Of Process – You learn how to do things better.
- Failure Provides The Gift Of Perspective – “You focus on what is really important.”
- Failure Provides The Gift Of Self-Awareness – You know what you are good at.
- Failure Brings Positive Change – Crawford said, “We’re more open to change and transformation when we fail.”
- Failure Brings Humility – He went on, “Examined failure teaches sweet humility and a desire to get better.”
- Failure Increases Your Faith – Your options are reduced and you are forced to trust God.
- Failure Increases Your View Of God – This is counter-intuitive but Crawford pointed out, “The issue is never the size of the challenge. The issue is your concept of God.”
- Failure Makes You Smarter – “Stubbornness and pride will pull you into stupidity.”
- Failure Makes You More Teachable – Crawford acknowledged, “Teachable people listen and respond to correction.” For those you lead who are unteachable and refuse to learn from failure, “enroll them in the school of consequences.”
- Failure Teaches You About Others – Based upon his years of leadership experience, Crawford shared, “You learn more about people during times of embarrassment than success.”
- Failure Teaches You Perseverance – “Failure is sometimes giving up too soon.”
- Failure Allows You To Be Used By God More Effectively – Crawford concluded, “How God uses you is dependent upon how well you handle failure.”
If you are leader with any experience at all, then you have experienced failure. Do not waste it.
Tell us about a time you failed and you got better because of it.
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